The Okotoks Dawgs kick off their 2016 WMBL schedule Wednesday night on the road in Medicine Hat against the Mavericks.

The Dawgs will go in a little shorthanded as not all the players and coaches have arrived yet.

Bench Manager Dave Robb will handle the managing duties until Manager Tyler Graham gets to town Friday.

He says they've got a good crop of local kids who made their bones with the Junior Dawgs program who will carry the load this year.

"We've got the Kirkwood twins, Garrett and Drake, Doug Clapperton, he's going to be in the outfield. Brendan Rose has been on this team for three or four years. And then we have J.T. Patterson. Graeme Cherry's on the mound and Nick Vickers is on the mound. So there's six or seven right there and like I said, I think they're going to be impact players. I think J.T. Patterson's going to hit third or fourth in our line up."

The Dawgs and Mavericks play again Thursday in "The Hat" before the Dawgs head back to Seaman Stadium for their home opener Friday against the Fort McMurray Giants.