LAC LA BICHE - The Lac La Biche Islanders junior hockey team is on the lookout for billet families to take in players during the upcoming season, which gets underway in late September.
The Islanders were formerly called 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.
Gatlin Church, general manager and head coach of the Islanders, said the team is currently short five full-time homes, and could use four short-term homes for players until mid-October.
“Like most places in Canada, billet families are short, for the ones we have we are grateful, but we definitely need more,” Church said on Aug. 27.
As far as criteria that is involved, Church explained that team staff ask those who are interested in becoming a billet family for an Islanders player have a spare room or basement space available, along with one warm meal a day being provided, and a supportive household.
Those who sign up to become billets are also compensated, according to the Islanders’ head coach, and receive $300 cash, along with a $250 gift card to a local grocery store.
“This allows us to support local businesses and provide compensation to our billets,” he stated. “We’re trying to show the community that we’re trying to be local, and support local, and build bridges locally.”
Getting ready for the season
The Islanders have been preparing for the start of the 2025-26 season. Recently, the team held a conditioning camp in Edmonton, which Church said went well.
“Our team looks stronger than it was last season,” he said. “We are very excited about the players coming to town.”
The Islanders will be playing in the six-team AEJHL, which also includes the Hinton Canadians, Vulcan Rampage, Vegreville Vipers, Northern Alberta Lightning, and Onion Lake Scouts.
According to Church, this year’s roster is comprised of 21 players that have been signed, with room for four more from the Islanders’ main camp, which is taking place Sept. 4-7.
Some of the players who are donning the Islanders’ jerseys for the 2025-26 season are from the Lac La Biche region.
“Braxton Patenaude, Kael Breton, Isaiah Trottier, Noah Sanderson, Ethan Auger are all local,” Church stated, adding that Lac La Biche-area player Jaron Shirt, who played with the Lakers during their winning season, will also be on this year’s roster. “We have our eye on a few more guys,” Church stated.
The upcoming season gets underway on Sept. 26 with a 7:30 p.m. home opener against the Vegreville Vipers at the Bold Centre. The team is also planning to host a tailgate party.
This past spring, the Lac La Biche Lakers defeated the Crowsnest Crush 6-3 to win the 2025 National Junior Hockey League championship. With a new season approaching, Church is hopeful that the team, which was rebranded to the Islanders earlier this year upon joining the ranks of the AEJHL, will have another successful season and possibly even emerge as victors for a second year in a row.
“I’m optimistic that we’ll be very competitive . . . I’m excited to see the overall growth of the league. I know being a first year is going to have its challenges with some teams . . . I expect us to have a team that should repeat as champions,” Church said.
