By Kathy Gallant

Meadow Lake Mustangs Junior A hockey team to hit the ice in 2018

May 28, 2018 | 5:00 PM

It is official: Meadow Lake is getting a Junior A hockey team.

Earlier this year, the newly-formed Western Provinces Hockey Association began discussions with representatives from various cities, including Meadow Lake. Now the team is close to a reality, with owners working on investment plans, searching for sponsorships, and selling shares. The team has also been given its name: The Mustangs.

Team Co-owner Brad Huziak said things are coming along well with the new team’s development.

“We’re going ahead,” Huziak said. “We’ve formed a company to fund the venture, we’re looking for investors to raise the rest of the capital. We’re getting season tickets ready and still have a few ducks left to get in a row.”

Junior A hockey is a high-paced level of the sport for young players between the ages of 16 and 19, and has jumpstarted the careers of many young hockey players.

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Huziak said tryouts will start in the late summer and early fall and will be open to young men from across the world. He said he anticipates quite a few European players will vie for spots, as the WPHA does not have a cap on foreign players. He said it would be great to see a mix of local players and others from around the country and globe.

“Ultimately, we want to have a competitive team,” he said. “The buzz in the community is very positive. Everybody seems quite excited about it. For Meadow Lake, it’s a great hockey community, and this will be a very good calibre.”

One of the next steps will be finding local billets to house the players, Huzkiak said, and the organization is in the midst hiring a coach and general manager. Huziak said he will attend league meetings this week in Las Vegas to firm up scheduling.

He said he thinks the benefits for the community will extend far beyond the hockey itself.

“There will be 27 home games,” Huziak said. “Restaurants will be busy, fuel stations will be busy, hotels will be busy. It’s a win for the community.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath