ATHABASCA – Hockey fans in Athabasca are going to have a new team to cheer for this winter with a new junior team ready to set up shop at the multiplex.
The yet-to-be named team will be playing in the National Junior Hockey League (NJHL), an Alberta-based independent organization with teams spread across the province.
“The arrival of an NJHL team marks an exciting new chapter for hockey in our region. This development will create new opportunities for local athletes and sports fans, while also boosting tourism and delivering meaningful economic benefits to the community,” said Rhonda Alix, the Athabasca Regional Multiplex’s manager.
The team is expecting to play 21 home games over the 2025-26 regular season, with general manager Jacob Hegerfeldt adding they’re coming into the inaugural season with playoff ambitions despite the fresh start.
Junior hockey typically features players between the ages of 18 and 21, although younger players may be included in the roster as well.
“We are proud to be the home of this exciting new chapter in junior hockey and look forward to the energy, community spirit, and regional pride this team will bring. We can’t wait to see the puck drop!” wrote board chair Ashtin Anderson in a July 24 statement.
For more coverage of the team’s arrival, make sure to check out the July 29 print edition of Town and Country This Week.
