By Josh Hall

PLACE FOR JUNIOR HOCKEY TO THRIVE

Rimbey Royals join Heritage Junior Hockey League

Mar 25, 2026 | 12:01 PM

The Heritage Junior ‘B’ Hockey League (HJHL) has announced it will expand to Rimbey next season.

The team will be known as the Rimbey Royals, and they will play in the North Division with teams from Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Airdrie, Mountainview, and Rocky Mountain House.

The division no longer includes Ponoka, which withdrew from the league in February. A league spokesperson clarifies the Rimbey expansion is unrelated to Ponoka’s situation.

“Rimbey has a strong hockey tradition and the kind of community support that helps junior hockey thrive. The Royals have also shown a clear commitment to building a program the right way, with a focus on player development, strong culture, and long-term stability,” League President Ian Hall said in a statement this week.

“The league anticipates the regular season will begin on or about September 25, 2026. And for fans who cannot always get to the rink, Royals home games will be streamed on FloHockey, so you can follow the team throughout the season.”

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As for the Royals, the team shared details on its social media and on HJHL.ca.

“We love this game, and we love this community. The Royals are not just a team. We are building a place where players can grow, families can feel proud, and game nights feel like something you look forward to,” the club says on the league website.

“Rimbey is a hockey town. The community has supported the game for years, and the youth programs have a strong track record. The Royals were created to give local and regional athletes a junior opportunity closer to home, and to give fans exciting, affordable hockey they can bring the whole family to.”

The Royals will play out of the 1,000-seat Vern Poffenroth Memorial Arena.

Rimbey has previously had Junior ‘B’ hockey clubs — for nine seasons from 2001 to 2011, the HJHL featured the Rimbey Rock; and the Rimbey West Stars played in the defunct Central Alberta Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in at least 1983-84.

More about the Royals is here.