The Lomond Lakers are looking forward to their first season in the Heritage Junior "B" Hockey League.

At the helm is Coach Mike Glawson, who's no stranger to hockey in the Foothills.

"Coaching at the Bantam "AAA" and Bantam "AA" level. Kind of where I really jumped off the page here was about a year ago, I coached the Okotoks Bantam "AA" to a league and Alberta Provincial title. So, yeah I've been involved in the elite stuff for the last five years now."

Glawson says they should slide right in and add an extra rivalry for teams like High River, Okotoks and Coaldale.

"You know Okotoks and High River have that rivalry being so close, and now us in the vicinity. And yeah, Coaldale, not too far down the road I think is going to make for a very, very competitive South Division this year."

On paper the Lakers don't seem a likely candidate for an expansion franchise in the Heritage Junior "B" Hockey League.

With a population of just a few hundred, and an arena on the fritz, you'd think "why there?"

However Glawson, says it's filling a need for kids looking to continue their hockey careers in that part of the province.

"It can be a bit of a tough sell trying to get kids to drive to High River or Okotoks or trying to get guys to drive to Coaldale. I think that there's enough talented kids anywhere from that Brooks, Bassano and west out to Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek and Claresholm area. I think there's enough talent in the area to sustain having another team."

The Lakers will play out of Claresholm this season, while the Lomond Arena is repaired.

They open the pre-season in Medicine Hat against the Cubs on Friday, September 14.