By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Sylvan Lake Pirates hope to raid NCHL starting next season

Apr 5, 2018 | 3:53 PM

More senior men’s hockey action could be on the horizon in central Alberta.

Curtis Klein, a third-year plumbing apprentice at Red Deer College, says he is confident the Sylvan Lake Pirates will take to the ice as part of the North Central ‘Senior AA’ Hockey League this September.

Klein will serve as the club’s president while Darren Thompson, formerly with the Houston Luckies in BC’s CIHL Senior AA circuit, will be the general manager.

The team is currently awaiting approval for non-profit status from the province, as well as approval from the NCHL at a meeting on May 5.

“The whole non-profit idea is about us wanting to do stuff for the town. I want to be able to provide a team the town can rally behind, come watch the games, have some fun, some beers, watch some good hockey and go home,” he says. “Sylvan Lake’s a hockey town and they have nothing like it here, so I just ran with it and it’s really taken off.”

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Having played senior hockey and in the AJHL, Klein knows the importance of having local players on the team to help draw more fans.

“We have more people that want to play than I can really handle,” he jokes.

Klein, who says he’s looking for the support of local businesses, says it would take between $25,000 and $50,000 annually to run the franchise.

The North Central Senior Hockey League currently consists of the Bonnyville Sr. Pontiacs, Daysland Stars, Devon Barons, Eckville Eagles, Morinville Kings, Westlock Warriors and Whitecourt Wild.