Waywayseecappo First Nation Awarded KJHL Expansion Franchise for 2023-2024!

The Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL) Executive and Board of Governors announced today that it has granted an expansion franchise to Waywayseecappo First Nation that will operate in Waywayseecappo, Manitoba.

The new KJHL franchise will be known as the Waywayseecappo Wild, and will play its inaugural season from the Waywayseecappo Arena Complex in Waywayseecappo, Manitoba in the 2022-2023 campaign.

“The Keystone Junior Hockey League is excited to welcome the Waywayseecappo Wild as the seventh franchise for the upcoming 2023-2024 season,” said KJHL President, Andrew Arksey.

“We have been in ongoing discussions with this group for months now and are very confident that the community owned non-profit organization and Waywayseecappo First Nation will provide an ideal new home market for the KJHL going forward. I would also like to recognize the significant commitment and efforts of councilor Laura Brandon who was instrumental in helping bring a new KJHL franchise to Waywayseecappo First Nation,” Arksey concluded.

Waywayseecappo First Nation Councilor and Team Governor Laura Brandon shared her excitement in welcoming Junior B Hockey to the growing First Nation.

“On behalf of Waywayseecappo First Nation I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the KJHL to our community and in making this dream a reality today. We are excited for this news and are hopeful to showcase a lot of local talent on this new Wild team.” shared Laura Brandon.

Waywayseecappo First Nation 

The Waywayseecappo First Nation (in Ojibwe: Wewezhigaabawing) is a First Nations band government whose reserve is located twenty miles (32 km) east of Russell, Manitoba, Canada. The First Nation's reserve is 10,059 hectare (24,856 acres) and is located near the southwestern corner of the Riding Mountain National Park. It is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Rossburn and the Rural Municipality of Silver Creek. The First Nation also hold interest together with 32 other First Nations on the 37.1-hectare (91.7 acre) Treaty Four Reserve Grounds (Indian Reserve No. 77), located adjacent to Fort Qu'Appelle. Its population was 1,219 in 2011. They are home of the MJHL team Waywayseecappo Wolverines. There are several businesses located in the Birdtail valley near PTH 45, such as a gas station, food mart, gaming center, health center, daycare, and community arena complex. 

Waywayseecappo First Nation are both excited and proud to be accepted as the newest franchise entry into the Keystone Junior Hockey League. We are excited to be in the community we are in. We are aware of the many young families that have made Waywayseecappo their home and the investment that they have made to our community. We look forward to engaging with many volunteers in the surrounding area as we put the various leadership teams into place in the weeks and months ahead.

For more additional information please contact General Manager Leslie McKay at 431-241-0059 or email at lesliemckay@msn.com.

The KJHL looks forward to working with the new management and ownership group along with the community of Waywayseecappo First Nation in the days ahead as they begin their journey towards their inaugural 2023-24 season in the KJHL. Be sure to follow our journey on Twitter at @KJHLWild as we move forward towards icing a competitive roster for the upcoming season. 

Please stay tuned for further exciting announcements to come.