Williams Lake will now be part of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League as the Mustangs.
The announcement was made earlier today (March 22nd) on the league’s website, stating that the Summerland Steam would relocate after being sold to a local group of Tyrel and Robin Lucas, Gerald Overton, Brad Paddison, Parnell Pinette, and Aaron and Nathan Zurak.
Team Governor, Parnell Pinette talks about bringing the Mustangs to Williams Lake.
“Everything has come up very quick. Four weeks ago this group didn’t even exist, there was nothing on the radar.” says Pinette.
“I can tell you four weeks ago I wouldn’t have thought that we’d have a junior team coming to Williams Lake so, pretty excited that it all came together that quickly.”
The group brings extensive hockey experience at the junior, college and professional levels, as well as a background and reputation with the local business community.
Pinette says he’s confident in the group they have, as a big thing was to be in it for the right reason, which they all had the same principle.
The team name will also be quite familiar to some, as it was a former team name in the city from 1976 to 1996, which he says was suggested in the very first meeting.
He said for them, there wasn’t a real second option.
The Mustangs will play out of the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Centre beginning next season, and Tyrel Lucas will be the team’s first Head Coach and General Manager.
The rink will go through some renovations, enhancing the team spaces, including the dressing room, team offices and broadcast area.
Details about season ticket information, spring camp dates and locations, and staffing announcements will be released down the road.
– Files from Zachary Barrowcliff, My Cariboo Now