West central hockey fans may have a new Junior ‘A’ team to cheer for in the upcoming 2019-2020 season. Last Friday it was announced that a league, now in it’s second year of operation, has targeted Rosetown as the location for a team expansion.

The Western Provinces Hockey Association (WPHA) operates independently under the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League (GMHL) and although the WPHA is in their second year, the GMHL has been operational since 2006.

According to the GMHL, the league was originally created with two goals in mind: to increase the international flavor of Junior Hocking in Central Canada and locate and establish teams in the cities and towns passionate about hosting this new brand of Junior Hockey.

The new brand of hockey that the vision statement was referring to was introduced by Bob Russell and Hockeyworks International Ltd. upon the leagues inception and stated they wanted to improve the current standard of player development at the Junior ‘A’ level in the world’s greatest Junior Hockey regions.

With the WPHA covering the western three provinces, Rosetown looks to join the league with a new Junior ‘A’ team being developed over the next several weeks and months.

Derek Prue, Expansion Director with the WPHA, shared that the league saw an opportunity in Rosetown and already have a pool of approximately 65 players who are ready, willing and able to play for the team at the competitive Junior ‘A’ level.

Prue stated over the next 10 – 14 days, a general manager and head coach will be named for the team with recruitment starting almost immediately after. Additionally, he added because they do operate independently, they are able to scout players from across the pond.

“Through the GMHL, we take European players, so on average our teams will have about five to six European players, so that really helps up the talent level as well”.

As part of the GMHL’s vision to provide an improved standard of player development, the League gives the players a specific opportunity to be seen by numerous scouts at the annual showcase.

“All players do go to the showcase every year in Ontario. There’s about 100 collegiate, university and professional scouts that attend to watch our players – so every player, every team, goes to that, that will happen mid-season, just before Christmas”.

Although numbers are still being finalized, Prue said they are expecting six to eight teams in the WPHA for the 2019-2020 season and will be focused in Alberta and Saskatchewan including Hinton and Meadow Lake respectively.

Prue said the teams will have approximately 25 home games each before the playoff run. Details are still being sorted out regarding finals but Prue speculates they will be split by east and west divisions, with the finals being held out east this year, with west-hosting opportunities arising next year.

More details are expected to be released in the coming weeks, including a season ticket drive and a ‘name the team’ contest, with logos and jerseys being revealed thereafter.