The Slave Lake Winterhawks have found their man. He’s Kim Scobie, who steps in as the head coach of the Senior hockey team just in time for the new season.
Scobie was behind the bench for the ‘Hawks two pre-season wins against the Athabasca Aces and has been running practices. He likes what he’s seen so far.
“For (a team of) all local guys, it’s as good a Senior hockey as you’ll find in Alberta,” he says. “Maybe even western Canada.”
Scobie, who hails from Saskatchewan, says there are plenty of Senior hockey teams around that recruit players from out of town, even pay them to come and play. But it’s better for the fans to see local people on the ice, he says. And he likes the group he’s got.
“It’s just a terrific bunch of guys,” he says. “I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a terrific year.”
As for the ‘Hawks’ two games against the Aces, Scobie thinks they played better in the 5 – 4 win than they did in the 9 – 4 victory a week earlier. There were a couple of breakdowns late in the game due to fatigue, he says, but “we gave up very few three-on-twos and I don’t know if we gave up any two-on-ones.”
Scobie hasn’t coached before, but he has played some good hockey. He had two stints with the Jr. ‘A’ Yorkton Terriers in the Saskatchewan League, as well as playing for Camrose Lutheran University one season. He played four years of Senior hockey in Churchbridge Saskatchewan.
Scobie has had no involvement with hockey in Slave Lake, though, and that’s one reason he appreciates the help of some of his senior players. Keith Sinclair, Joey Dunlop and Kyle Hansen, he says, “have been a really big help to me, as team leaders.”
Scobie says the turnout at practices so far has been “very good.”
There are some familiar faces back with the team, including Travis Sinclair and Jeff Green. Brian Evans and Kurt MacKinnon are brand new and Tyler Ching and Grant Hawkins are familiar from their time with the Wolves.
The Winterhawks’ season starts for real this Saturday, Oct. 18 with a game in Legal. Sunday they are back home to host the league champion Lamont Bruins, at 2:00 p.m.
The Slave Lake Winterhawks senior men’s hockey team got a good start and hung on to beat the Athabasca Aces 5 - 4 in an exhibition game on Oct. 4.
The ‘Hawks dominated early on, going up 4 - 0 on goals by Brent Hill, Kiel Ching and two by Mike Zinyk - all in the first period. The Aces got one in the second and three more in the third to make it interesting.
Newcomer Brian Evans scored the winner. Sheldon Ghostkeeper and Sanford Lamouche shared goaltending duties.
The Winterhawks start their regular season in Legal on Oct. 18. On Sunday, Oct. 19, they’re home to the league champion Lamont Bruins.

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