Beginning in the fall of 2014, the GLHA’s 16 competitive teams playing in the Seeded (AA/A) level of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario will be known as the Junior Mustangs and will wear Western’s traditional purple and white colours along with a new Junior Mustangs logo. The 16 Junior Mustangs teams will make up nearly 300 of the more than 4,500 players that play under the GLHA banner each year.
“We’re very excited to announce this new partnership with the GLHA,” said Western Director of Sport and Recreation Services Thérèse Quigley. “Working with the GLHA and helping grow minor hockey in London is something that we’re passionate about and I know our coaches and players are eager to get on the ice and work with the Junior Mustangs players.”
“Being able to partner with the Mustangs and have our teams compete as the Junior Mustangs is a great opportunity for our players and coaches,” said GLHA Chair Rob Duncan. “Not only will our teams wear those familiar purple and white colours all around the province, but they’ll have the opportunity to learn from the Mustangs coaches and players and apply it to their own games.”
Along with providing the Mustangs name and team colours, the Western Mustangs men’s and women’s hockey coaches and players will help develop the Junior Mustangs program through coaching and skills clinics. The university Mustangs will also participate in Junior Mustangs team practices on various occasions, teaching not only hockey skills, but also sharing their experience as student-athletes.
“This is a very exciting time for the Western hockey programs,” said Western men’s hockey head coach Clarke Singer. “We are looking forward to welcoming the GLHA coaches and players to the Mustangs family and there are many long lasting benefits that will come from this cooperation.”
“As a long-time member of the London hockey community I am thrilled to see the creation of the Junior Mustangs hockey program,” said Mustangs women’s hockey head coach Chris Higgins. “The synergies in terms of player and coach development, and the opportunities for GLHA players to interact with student-athletes, both on and off the ice, is a positive move forward for hockey in London. As a coach at Western I am excited to become more involved in the local hockey community.”
Registration for the Junior Mustangs teams officially opens on April 16, 2014, with tryouts scheduled to begin May 5. For more details on registration and tryout dates check
GLHA.ca
