NWJHL Welcomes Hinton Timberwolves for 2025–2026 Season

The Strike Group North West Junior Hockey League (NWJHL) is proud to announce the official acceptance of the Hinton Timberwolves into the league, beginning with the 2025–2026 season.

The Timberwolves, led by veteran hockey executive Dino Buttazzoni, bring a rich hockey history to the NWJHL. The organization has previously competed in several unsanctioned Junior "A" Tier 2 leagues and most recently participated in the 2023–2024 season of the Canadian-American Junior Hockey League (CAJHL). The CAJHL did not operate during the 2024–2025 season.

“I want to participate in a league with stability, competitiveness, structure, and a positive experience for all my players,” said Buttazzoni. “That’s why we reached out to the NWJHL.”

The NWJHL recently celebrated its 30th season and continues to offer a strong, balanced level of competition among member clubs. The league is proud of its track record in player development, with many athletes advancing to higher levels such as the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), as well as university and college programs across North America. The NWJHL also awards five academic scholarships annually to players pursuing post-secondary education.

The Hinton Timberwolves are currently recruiting and will be attending upcoming showcases and camps throughout the Western provinces. The team is based in the town of Hinton, Alberta, and will play home games at the Duncan Murray Recreation Centre.

With this expansion, the NWJHL’s roster of teams now includes:

• Fort St. John Huskies

• Dawson Creek Kodiaks

• Beaverlodge Blades

• County of Grande Prairie Wheat Kings

• Sundown Oilfield Sexsmith Vipers

• Fairview Flyers

• North Peace Navigators

• La Crete Lumber Barons

• Hinton Timberwolves

“The NWJHL executive is continuing to work on the possible expansion of additional teams,” said Peter Burletoff, NWJHL President. “Adding quality organizations like Hinton will only strengthen our league going forward.”