New Jr. B hockey team ready to score

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There will be a new bird in the flock when the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League kicks off its 1998 - 99 season.

With a brand new franchise and logo in place, the Onion Lake Winter Hawks will hit the ice in September ready to take on all challengers.

The Winter Hawks, made up of hometown boys from Onion Lake and players from across the region, will be joining the league with Kelly Zacharias as head coach and Kevin Tootoosis as manager.

Onion Lake First Nation is well known for having a lot of support and strong backing for hockey, and the inauguration of a Junior B team will fill an important gap between the minor and senior leagues.

With a roster of players coming up from the minor leagues and some last cuts from Junior. A squads, both Zackarias and Tootoosis expect a winning season.

Zacharias, a scout with the Melford Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, grew up north of Saskatoon.

He said the local interest in hockey led him to accept a year round position as head coach and technical instructor for the Onion Lake Band and the new Winter Hawks.

The plan to launch a new Junior B team had been in the works for several years, backed by strong local interest and real talent among local players who wanted to get into the Junior hockey level.

A board of governors was formed to approach the board of the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League in January and was given unanimous approval for the creation of a new Onion Lake franchise.

"The creation of the Onion Lake Winter Hawks will have important social spin-offs on the reserve," said George Dillon.

"Having Kelly Zacharias here to coach the new team and help develop a comprehensive technical system for our minor leagues will really increase the local calibre and act as a powerful incentive for hockey families in the community," he added.

"Something that reinforces dedication and commitment and helps to bring pride and social stability to our people."

Having a superb arena facility, fundraising and strong corporate backing, the new kids on the blockNorth Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League should be ready to roar at their first home game next month.