The Slave Lake Wolves are preparing to hit the ice once again after more than a decade away, marking the return of junior hockey to the community.
For General Manager Calvin Beauchamp, the franchise’s comeback is about more than rebuilding a hockey club, it is about bringing people together and creating new opportunities for local athletes.
“It is very exciting for the whole community,” Beauchamp says. “It feels like something bigger than just having a higher level of hockey in town again.”
He says that the Slave Lake Wolves also have a huge social impact, bringing people together down at the rink for games and team events.
As the Wolves prepare for their first season back in the North West Junior Hockey League, Beauchamp says the organization is focused on honouring the franchise’s history while building a program that will serve the community for years to come.
He also says that from developing young players and reconnecting with alumni to creating memorable game-day experiences, the Wolves aim to become more than a hockey team—they hope to once again become a source of community pride.
“We had several meetings leading up to the announcement,” Beauchamp says. “Once we formed a board it was full steam ahead.”
Nine volunteer board members stepped forward to help rebuild the organization, while local businesses embraced opportunities to support the team through sponsorships and partnerships, Beauchamp says.
“We all wanted to give back to the community, give players an opportunity most wouldn’t have without the Wolves, and also give businesses creative ways to help build something special,” he says.
Respecting the Wolves’ history was also a priority throughout the planning process.
The organization incorporated elements of the original Wolves logo into its new branding and received guidance from former Wolves executives who assisted with the administrative process. Just as importantly, Beauchamp says the new organization intends to uphold the community values that defined previous Wolves teams.
“We wanted to make sure we held the same values that the Wolves previously had, including having a strong community presence.”
The timeline to prepare for the 2026 and 2027 season has been one of the organization’s biggest challenges.
Planning began in mid-March, and the franchise was officially accepted into the North West Junior Hockey League during the league’s annual general meeting on April 25.
“It was a short timeframe,” Beauchamp says
Player recruitment has also been progressing well.
The Wolves hosted a successful spring identification skate in June, attracting players from Slave Lake and surrounding communities. The club’s main training camp and tryout is scheduled for Aug. 7 to 9, when the coaching staff will finalize the roster.
“We’re looking for players that want to foster community pride while expanding their skills on and off the ice within a structured and supportive environment.”
Fans can expect an energetic style of hockey when the season begins.
Head coach Nathan Smith, along with assistant coaches Blake Carpenter and Colter Tkach, will lead a team Beauchamp describes as hardworking and fast-paced.
Off the ice, the organization plans to bring back the Wolves’ traditional game-day program under a new name, The Howler, giving local businesses advertising opportunities while helping fans get to know the players.
The club is also planning community-focused events throughout the season, including an alumni night, food bank drive and toy drive, while players will regularly
participate in local events.
“We’ll be focusing on building the program, but with success in mind,” he says. “We’ll strive to have our share of wins on and off the ice.”
For Beauchamp, the Wolves’ first home game will represent years of planning, volunteer effort and community support finally coming together.
“It will be a huge sense of pride and accomplishment for me and all of our staff….. we all wanted to give back, and this will be rewarding for everyone,” says Beauchamp.
Julia Magsombol
Lakeside Leader