(Prince Albert Timberjaks/Facebook)

By Nolan Kowal

Timberjaks preview

Addition of Junior B Timberjaks bolsters local hockey scene

Sep 21, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Junior B hockey action is returning to Prince Albert this season as the Prince Albert Timberjaks are set to compete in the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL).

“I’m really excited to see how we’re going to compare to the other teams. This is all new for me as far as this level of hockey,” said Head Coach Moe Lemire, who added that they have a relatively young team with just two players who have played in the league before.

“It’s a great group of kids who are really willing to learn and work for one another and sacrifice themselves for the team,” he said.

The birth of the Timberjaks adds to an already robust local hockey scene in Prince Albert.

“I think the most important aspect of having a team at this level is to provide opportunities for kids that are in that 18-21 age range to have a chance to play some fairly competitive hockey, as opposed to maybe having to play senior somewhere with guys that are a little bit older or rec hockey,” Lemire said.

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“It gives them another option to stick around town and work or go to school here in Prince Albert as opposed to having to maybe go to Saskatoon or Carrot River or some of these other places that have Junior B teams to play there. They can stay home.”

While Lemire is new to Junior B, he has coached hockey for over 20 years at different levels. After playing for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, he was a player-coach in Shellbrook. He also coached minor hockey while his kids were growing up and was an assistant with the Prince Albert Mintos for four years.

The Timberjaks are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Carrot River on Tuesday in exhibition play. The team will play a couple more preseason games this weekend before opening their regular season at home on Sept. 28.

Finally, Lemire was brief when asked what kind of team he expects to ice this year.

“Well-balanced and hard-working,” he said.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com