If you think you have what it takes to be a member of the Westlock Warriors, this is your golden opportunity.
The senior club is preparing for their latest season of North Central Hockey League action and are putting the call out for new players to join them at their training camp, with first skate Sept. 8 at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
“It’s looking pretty good. Most of the guys are returning and we’re hoping to get in some new guys as well,” said head coach Mike Ivey.
“We’ve got a good core group and then we’re bringing in guys from Barrhead, Athabasca, the city and such.”
With players having to juggle work, family and farm obligations alongside their hockey duties, Ivey noted the Warriors need extra players to call on to keep their bench well-stocked as the season drags on.
Ivey noted many of the Warriors were driving in from Edmonton and one veteran, Gordon Bell, occasionally makes the trip all the way from Oklahoma City to help the team out, so finding some extra bodies closer to home would help the team stand out among the nine teams vying for eight playoff spots this year.
“We play a 16-game schedule,” he said. “Competition is looking good, the teams are strong this year, but I think we’re going to do very well this year. Teams like Bonnyville, Daysland and Eckville have been around the top the last few years but we’ve competed with them, which I’m happy about. I think we’re bringing a good group back that should take it them.”
Time commitments involve one practice and typically one game per week.
Players must participate in at least four regular season games to be able to compete in the playoffs.
“It is open to anyone that wants to try out, for sure. People are hopefully aware of the level of fitness they need to be at to try out, but usually everyone who shows up is good and it ups our level of competition,” he said. “We’re getting older, so the fitness level is not quite what it was, but we’re a group of guys who want to play competitive hockey.”
Prospective players should contact the Warriors over their Facebook page.
The club has a tentative exhibition game for Sept. 29 while the season opener goes Oct. 6 versus Whitecourt at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
