Photo courtesy EverythingGP

By Jeff Henson

NPHL

Grande Prairie Athletics excited for return of the North Peace Hockey League

Nov 4, 2022 | 2:50 PM

For the first time since March of 2020, the North Peace Hockey League has returned to action.

The league has eight teams this season, and Grande Prairie Athletics manager Mike Rappel says it is nice to see some teams return to the league this year after taking a brief leave of absence.

” We have Spirit River returning, the Valleyview Jets have come back to the league this season, and Fort St John is also back from their hiatus. And just the league, in general, being back to eight teams and some renewed enthusiasm to play hockey so it is good to see.”

Rappel adds it is great to see a high level of interest in the league this season.

“We have not seen Valleyview in many years, but from what I have been told they have 35 players, give or take, that are interested in playing. So a new generation is coming up and everybody wants to get back on the ice.”

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Much like most teams in the league, Rappel says there are a lot of new faces on the A’s this season.

“We have gotten to see some of the new faces and see how well they actually play together in a game. It is a good learning time for a lot of these young players. It is a men’s team at the end of the day, so it is a lot of big bodies out there, and just getting used to how the game is played with the bigger boys out there, the speed at which they play, and how they are playing together. Most of these guys have not played together in a while.”

The Athletics fell 7-2 to Dawson Creek in their regular season opener on October 28th.

They are in Spirit River this Saturday night to face the Rangers.

The two teams will also meet on Saturday, November 12th at Design Works Centre for the A’s home opener.

Rappel says they are still looking for volunteers and sponsors to help out with the team this season.