With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Williams Lake Mustangs.
The Mustangs finished fourth in the Doug Birks division last season with a record of 15-22-3-4. They lost in the opening round of the playoffs in six games to the 100 Mile House Wranglers.
Returning Players: F- JP Desabrais (43-23-28-51), Kaelen Swanson (44-22-26-48), Logan Hauk (32-21-18-39), Tyson Carter (37-4-4-8), Tate Rigel (34-0-4-4), Matthew Hufty (34-1-2-3), D- Declan Pocock (42-19-25-44), Rory Mumford (38-3-8-11), Aden Miller (34-1-5-6), Madden Aubie (38-1-5-6), Trent Thiessen (32-0-4-4), G-Alex Jessey (22-8-9-0 | 3.94 GAA |.909 SP).
“Jessey finished very hot for us last year,” said Mustangs head coach-general manager Tyrel Lucas of his goalie who posted a .913 SP and went 7-8-0 in the regular season, then earned two playoff wins with a 2.54 GAA and an excellent .944 SP. “He played amazing for us down the stretch, clearly became our No.1 goalie. We’ve brought in Nathen Wilson, who will definitely be pushing him a lot throughout the season. He has a crazy work ethic, just really battles hard between the pipes and so I think we’re really solid in net.”
Acquisitions: Alberto Kellgren (via trade from Sicamous Eagles – 42-4-5-9).
Rookies: F-Owen Kluss – Titans Hockey Union U17 – Junior Prospects Hockey League (28-22-12-34), Linden Pinette – U18 Williams Lake Timberwolves T2 (47-48-46-94), Sam Bogle – Prince George Cougars U18 T2 – Elite Hockey League (39-55-39-94), Cash Sellars – Williams Lake Timberwolves U18 T2 (58-50-49-99), Dawson Knackstedt – Edmonton HC U17 – JPHL (27-7-14-21), Nolan Phare – Northern Alberta Xtreme – CSSHL (30-12-5-17 | 2 GP Drayton Valley Thunder), Brenden Roberts – Williams Lake Timberwolves U18 T2 (46-56-38-94), Chase Gaucher – Edmonton HC U18 – JPHL (21-9-9-18), D- Dawson Rowse – Langley HA – JPHL (29-9-20-29), Chaz Lucas – Edmonton HC – JPHL (26-8-18-26), G- Wilson – CBHA Rangers U18AA -AEHL (18GP | 3.60 |.900 SP).
Team Outlook: “I’m super excited – super thrilled the kids we had last year are back and are super quality humans and good hockey players. The players that we’ve recruited are guys that we’ve wanted.”
Lucas added that their defence has improved a lot and the veterans are doing a good job of taking away time and space. They are allowing the forwards to come back and join the rush. With a foundation established – the work ethic – there was energy at camp.
“The energy and speed on the ice is massive because of the leadership that these 11 guys are bringing back. We just didn’t have that last year at the start,” said Lucas. “The speed on the backcheck, they’re fast and tenacious. They get on pucks right away.”
