As summer in Jasper nears its final days, there are a few things that are a certainty in this town.

Children are back to school, the elk are in rut, and the Jasper Wolves are lacing up for another year of hockey.

This year the Wolves’ season will start with an open try-out on Saturday, Sept. 26, with an exhibition game against Grande Prairie Saturday, Oct. 3 in Jasper. The town’s senior men’s hockey team is ready for another season in North-Central Senior Hockey League and ready to take on Jasper’s biggest rivals.

New player/president (new to the president role), Rob Olsen is expecting a lot of new faces this year to add to the core group of about 10 players who keep coming back year after year and led the team to a strong season last year.

Whether you are a new-to-town player or just want to lace up the skates again for another season, Olsen is expecting a good turnout of talented players later this month.

“Most of the players have played in some junior (league) or higher experience in the past. Most of the players would have AJHL or WHL or some college experience or something along those lines. Everyone has a different background. For a couple of 23-year old guys from Edmonton who just want to come out for the winter and ski and work, it’s perfect for them.”

The age range for the Wolves is 18 and up. Olsen says generally the oldest players are 40, although they have a couple veterans who are still lacing up the skates at 42. The team is also running the season with a player/coach system, as they don’t have anyone who has stepped up to coach yet. It’s not a tough job, Olsen says, since most of the players are older and don’t need much coaching, but they will make due without.

Olsen also cleared up any rumours that the Wolves and Hinton are going to combine to be one team.

“Hinton was hoping that we would fold our team so they could pick up our players, but if we folded, then we wouldn’t have a team at all, we’d just be playing in Hinton,” he says. Olsen says the issue was that Wolves were short on staff needed to keep the team running, but they’ve got that organized now.

While Hinton is the closest team for the Wolves, Olsen says the biggest rivals will be with Edson, Onoway and Drayton Valley – the teams that are in their division.

For more information about playing for the Wolves, show up for first try-out session on Sept. 26 at the Activity Centre, or email Rob Olsen at rolson@earls.ca.