A Warman Wovlerines prospect fires a onetimer on goal past an outstretched goaltender. (Hudson Kerr/Warman Wolverines.)

By Michael Salmon

Inaugural season starts soon

Wolverines GM on how the team is shaping up ahead of reguar season debut

Sep 8, 2025 | 4:39 PM

Warman Wolverines Head Coach and General Manager Brett Pilkington is preparing his team for the upcoming season as the franchise makes it’s SJHL debut in the coming weeks.

Since the Notre Dame Hounds relocated from Wilcox, Sask. in the summer, there have been major changes – from the team name to the coaching staff, along with new ownership, and a handful of players at training camp including local talent. Having already played a few games in their first taste of preseason action, Pilkington said he is confident about his current crew of players moving ahead.

“I like the group we have. They’ve come into camp in shape and ready to work hard each each and every day. We saw that a little bit last weekend there with getting a split and I thought the game we lost, we played pretty well too… just got a little snake bitten there with the post, but the effort’s been there, the consistency’s been there.”

Despite the number of players on the roster, Pilkinton said they are working towards trimming it down before opening night.

As he pointed out, there is a set of expectations for the players trying to make the roster.

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“Obviously starting in net there, being able to stop the puck and being a good teammate, communicating with the D. If they’re not in the net, being a good cheerleader on the bench. Then with the D, we’re looking for guys that are able to make that first pass and join the plays and help out on the offence. Up front, we’re looking for players that want to play inside the dots where it’s tough and not easy to go and guys that can fill the nets. So, the list is long, but at the end of the day, the kids that want to play the way we want them to, will be here.”

Despite all the changes that have taken place, Pilkington, who had been with the Hounds since 2019-20, said the move to Warman brings fresh opportunities.

“Yeah, I see it as a new start, a new team, new everything. Like I said, when we started camp day one, that’s been the message to the players in the direction we want to go. I enjoyed my time at the past place there, but moving forward, we want to go above and beyond here.”

The last team to play in the Saskatoon area in the SJHL was the Saskatoon Rage who played only one season in 1998-99, finishing 9-55 before folding after the season.

The Wolverines will open their season against the Humboldt Broncos at the Warman Home Centre Communiplex for the first time on September 19th.