Richard Froese
South Peace News
The High Prairie Red Wings are gunning for their fifth straight championship at they open play in the second season in the National Junior Hockey League.
High Prairie opens the season Sept. 27 when the Red Wings host the Redwater Pioneers, who relocated from Gibbons.
Before the puck drops, the Red Wings will raise the championship banner – the first in the new NJHL – interim head coach Kevin Hopfner says.
The Red Wings won three straight titles in the West Division in the Greater Metro Junior Hockey League.
Hopfner is optimistic the Wings can continue their winning ways.
“Our goal is to win our fifth championship in a row and we do have the potential to do it with the lineup we’re putting together,” says Hopfner, who succeeds Trent Meyaard, who stepped down in August after serving as head coach for the past three seasons.
“Trent put together some fantastic systems and adjusted when needed.
“Four championships tells the story.”
Hopfner has been with the club since Sept. 8, 2020 when he became the head coach and general manager. He then bought the team Aug. 4, 2020.
“The Red Wings have been a strong team because of the recruiting, coaching and dedicated players,” Hopfner says.
“We haven’t always had the most talented team, but Trent did an amazing job getting the players to buy into his system.”
Entering its second season, the NJHL will feature eight teams and two divisions. High Prairie will play in the Alberta North Division with the Edson Eagles, Redwater, the Lac La Biche Lakers and the Mayerthorpe Lightning.
The Alberta South Division includes the Claresholm Thunder, the Crowsnest Pass Crush and the Vulcan Rampage.
Lac La Biche, Claresholm and Crowsnest Pass are playing their first season in the league.
Vulcan joined the league last season.