LAC LA BICHE - The Lac La Biche Islanders junior hockey club has been preparing for the upcoming season, which gets underway on Sept. 26 with a 7:30 p.m. home opener against the Vegreville Vipers.
The Islanders were formerly known as the Lac La Biche Lakers, and played in the National Junior Hockey League (NJHL) during their inaugural 2024-25 season. After moving to the newly formed Alberta Elite Junior Hockey League (AEJHL), the team was renamed the Lac La Biche Islanders.
On Sept. 10, members of the Islanders suited up in red and blue jerseys and hit the ice inside Lac La Biche’s Bold Centre for a practice. Head coach Gatlin Church went over game strategy with players, who then participated in passing, skating and shooting drills.
Some of those players whose names are on the team roster for the upcoming season such defenseman Braxton Patenaude, played with the Lakers last year, while others, including as Garren Voisey, are first timers with the team.
Patenaude, who lives in Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, is happy to play in Lac La Biche for a second season.
“It’s really the best, you know, because you’re at home . . . and the boys are honestly the best because you grew up with a few of them, and then you got some that come from all over Canada,” he said. “These guys, they’re pretty awesome.”
Patenaude was part of the Lakers squad who defeated the Crowsnest Crush this past spring to win the 2025 National Junior Hockey League championship.
He is optimistic about the upcoming season and believes the Islanders could have another chance at the championship this year.
“[I’m] really confident and really excited. I’m looking forward to the playoffs, even though it’s a long ways away, but I’m looking forward to the season to just start off officially,” Patenaude said.
The Islanders’ roster features several players from different regions of Canada, including Voisey, who hails from Nunavut.
Before getting drafted to play for the AEJHL’s Lac La Biche Islanders, the 21-year-old forward played with both the Thunder Bay North Stars and the Sioux Lookout Bombers of the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
Coming to Lac La Biche to play junior hockey has been a good experience for the junior hockey player.
“It’s a cool place . . . It’s a nice place,” said Voisey, who is also looking forward to the start of the season. “It’ll be fun . . . I feel like it’s going to be competitive.”