Beaverlodge Blades

By Jeff Henson

NWJHL

NWJHL expands with addition of La Crete and return to Beaverlodge

May 2, 2022 | 12:32 PM

The North West Junior Hockey League will grow by two teams to eight next season, with the addition of a new franchise in La Crete and the return of the Beaverlodge Blades.

The Blades have not played in the NWJHL since the 2017-18 season.

Beaverlodge coach and GM Ed Widdifield says this has been in the works for the past few months, adding he feels there are enough players in the region that will allow their return to work.

“There are so many local kids from the area, live Beaverlodge, Hythe, La Glace, Sexsmith, and Wembley, that are playing for different teams either in our league or in the Kootenay league. And then the Beaverlodge minor hockey program had a great year this year with a lot of success. And we are also building off the Spirit River midget team which also had a great year with a lot of success.”

Both teams were voted in at league meetings held on Sunday.

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Widdifield says the next few months will be busy for him, as he starts recruiting players.

“We were not really allowed to recruit until we were officially in (the league). We were able to reach out to the younger players, and I have been working very hard on that.”

“Our next step is we are going to have an ID camp here in early June and try to get as many kids to that as we can. And then pick the best ones from there and invite them back to our main camp in the fall.”

Widdifield says there was some consideration given to naming the team the West County Blades, as there will be players from right across the region. But they decided to stick with Beaverlodge Blades, as that was the former name of the team, as well as their major sponsors will be from Beaverlodge.

He adds there has been a lot of buzz in and around Beaverlodge about the return of the Blades this fall.

Widdifield says this is a good time for the NWJHL.

“To expand from 6 to 8 teams with the addition of La Crete and us. The other good thing about the NWJHL is this year, Fort St John (Huskies) had an excellent program – winning the league and then going on to win provincials. So that bodes well for our league.”

Widdifield, who has coached at various levels across the region, says even though his team will be young, he expects them to be hardworking and to surprise some teams next season.