WESTLOCK — The AA senior men’s Westlock Warriors began their 10th season in the North Central Hockey League (NCHL) with a 10-0 shutout victory over the Morinville Kings Sunday night.
The Warriors started the 2023-2024 NCHL regular season on the road Oct. 1 after two pre-season exhibition games against the Camrose Bruins that saw a 9-5 win Sept. 16 and a close 5-4 loss Sept. 24.
Now under new head coach Rod Kaliel, a former Warrior himself who was captain of the first Westlock team in the NCHL in 1998, the Westlock Wolfpack, the team has been busy preparing for the season and will hit the ice for their home opener Oct. 14
“We had a good turnout for our (training) camp, we had over 35 guys trying out. We’re going to carry a fairly big roster going into the year … I think we’re well poised to be ready for our first game,” said Kaliel prior to the Oct. 1 win.
During the pre-season Kaliel said they worked on a number of areas including breakouts and conditioning, with regular season practices to take place every Wednesday and game days Friday to Sunday.
“We have a strong returning core of players from last year but we’re really excited about some of our new rookies that we’ve brought in,” he said noting forward Blair Boulerice, a former affiliate player who is in his first full-year with the team and forwards Kasyn Pipke, Landon Lavallee, along with defenseman Adien-Bo Cornell and goaltenders Lars Kaliel and Keegan Richards, round out the rookies this year.
Several changes to the league in 2023-2024 include the introduction of North and South divisions, with two new teams from Camrose and Wetaskiwin that will compete in a 16-game regular season with playoffs beginning in early February. Other changes include overtime in the regular season that will be followed by a three-on-three five-minute sudden death period and a shootout if necessary.
Kaliel noted his expectations for the team this season and the anticipated success for the Warriors this year.
“We definitely have the commitment and the depth of a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs. It’s really going to come down to which team is able to ice a deep lineup that is willing to make sacrifices throughout the year,” said Kaliel. “I know we have a really tight group with good camaraderie in the dressing room and that’s really the basis of a championship. Throughout the years I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of a couple of different championship teams and from my experience, this squad has all of the markings of a team that can make a run for a championship.”
The Westlock Warriors will welcome the Morinville Kings for their home opener Oct. 14 at the Rotary Spirit Centre. The puck drops at 8:30 p.m.
