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Friday, October 23, 2026

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THHL Spotlight: Icemen ready for return

By Robin Wark

The Oak Lake Icemen are back, and the community is looking forward to the hockey season.

The Icemen will begin play in the Tiger Hills Hockey League on Oct. 23 when they face the Jets in Wawanesa. The team will be the first senior squad to compete under the moniker since the North Central Hockey League’s Icemen in 2011-12.

“The community has definitely been excited about it,” said Riley Hall, one of the team’s organizers. “Everywhere we go, people are asking about the team and when the games will be. It has been great to see that support, especially after Oak Lake has been without a senior team for 14 years.”

After the season opener, the Icemen will play on Oct. 29 in Virden. The team will host its home opener on Nov. 7 when the Pilot Mound Pilots fly in. The Icemen are looking forward to competing in the THHL. "I think our biggest strength is the enthusiasm and commitment we have from the players,” Hall said. “We have a group of guys who want to play hockey, compete and have fun doing it.” The Icemen will feature a mix of local players and those from the surrounding area. Hall said, “There has been a lot of interest from guys who are excited about getting back on the ice and being part of bringing senior hockey back to Oak Lake.”

The THHL

The THHL will have 15 teams this season. The Sandy Bay Flying Feathermen have left the

league, while the Icemen and the Pilots have joined. The top 12 teams in the standings will earn playoff berths. In each postseason round before the final, the higher-seeded teams will choose their opponent.

He expects there will be several players who will have a big impact. Preferring not to single out anyone before the team plays together, Hall said, “We're expecting contributions throughout the lineup, and we're excited to see how everyone comes together once the season gets going.”

After there had been talk for a couple of years about a new Icemen team but no action, Terrence Crampain and Hall decided to investigate what it would take to make it a reality. Tammy Hall, the team’s manager, contacted the THHL leadership and was provided a list of what needed to be done before the September meeting.

“Terrence, our manager and I attended that meeting and presented our plans to the board and league members,” Riley Hall said. “A vote was held, and we were approved to rejoin the league. That’s when the hard work of getting everything up and running really began. Terrence and I have been working hard to find sponsors and donations to help cover the startup costs and purchase new jerseys for the team. It has really been a group effort to get the Icemen back on the ice.”

Oil Kings

The Virden Oil Kings open their season on the road on Oct. 24 against the Boissevain Border Kings. Their home opener is against the Icemen on Oct. 29.

Each team will play an 18-game regular season. For scheduling purposes, the THHL has been divided into three divisions. Teams will play their divisional opponents twice and all the other teams once. Virden and Oak Lake are both in the West division along with Deloraine, Hartney and Melita.