| Warman Wolverines | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Warman, Saskatchewan |
| League | SJHL |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Home arena | Warman Home Centre Communiplex |
| Colours | |
| Owner(s) |
|
| President | Jonathan Abrametz |
| General manager | Brett Pilkington |
| Head coach | Brett Pilkington |
| Website | warmanwolverines |
| Franchise history | |
| 1987–2025 | Notre Dame Hounds |
The Warman Wolverines are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team based in Warman, Saskatchewan, competing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). The team was established by co-founders Jonathan Abrametz and Cole Kachur in 2025 following the relocation of the Notre Dame Hounds from Wilcox, Saskatchewan, to Warman.[1] The team was previously affiliated with Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, before it was sold in 2025 and relocated to Warman.[2] The franchise is notable for being the first SJHL team in the greater Saskatoon area since the Saskatoon Rage in the mid-1990s.
History
[edit]The Warman Wolverines were formed after a group of Saskatoon-based investors, led by Jonathan Abrametz, purchased the Notre Dame Hounds franchise in March 2025. The relocation to Warman was announced on February 18, 2025, with the team set to begin play in the 2025–26 SJHL season, pending approval from the SJHL’s annual general meeting in June 2025. The move was driven by a desire to bring junior A hockey to Warman, a community known for its strong hockey culture.
The ownership group aimed to transition the team to a community-owned, non-profit model within 5 to 10 years, aligning with the SJHL’s predominant ownership structure. The owners have reportedly funded about $850,000 (CAD) for the 2025-26 season along with plenty of support from business sponsors and more being announced in the upcoming days.[1]
Team identity
[edit]The name Wolverines was chosen to align with the team names of Warman High School.[3] The team logo, a side profile of a wolverine, is similar, but not identical, to that of the school.[4] The team colours are teal, red, dark blue and white. Red was chosen to honour the franchise's former identity as the Notre Dame Hounds, whose colours were red and white.[2]
Ownership and Management
[edit]Jonathan Abrametz
[edit](Co-Founder)
Jonathan Abrametz is a Canadian trial lawyer and sports executive based in Saskatoon. He is a co-founder of the Warman Wolverines SJHL franchise and serves as one of the team’s senior executives.[5] Abrametz is the principal of The Barrister Group law firm and holds a Chartered Director designation. He has also trained at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, which focuses on advanced courtroom advocacy.
Cole Kachur
[edit](Governor)
Cole Kachur is a Canadian financial adviser and sports executive from Saskatchewan. He is a co-founder of the Warman Wolverines junior ice hockey franchise in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), which was granted league approval for its inaugural 2025–26 season. Kachur is the principal owner of Kachur Wealth Management Group, part of Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, where he has been recognised among the firm’s top under-40 advisers.[6] According to local reporting, the Wolverines’ first-season operating budget was estimated at about $850,000 (CAD), a figure Kachur helped secure during the league’s expansion process.[7] He has also been active in minor hockey coaching and is known in the region for community sponsorship, including the Kachur Wealth Community Arena in Clavet.[8]
Tyler Helm
[edit](Investor)
Tyler Helm is a Canadian federal public servant, farmer and sports executive. He is one of the key investors of the Warman Wolverines of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.[9] Helm was raised in Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, and combined work on his family farm with a career in the federal government before helping establish the Wolverines franchise.[5] He has stated that his aim in creating the team is to build a junior-hockey culture rooted in community involvement and local pride.
Brianna Bernst
[edit](Manager, Business Operations)
Brianna Bernst is a Canadian sports administrator who became manager of business operations for the Warman Wolverines junior ice hockey team in 2025.[10] She previously served as Promotions and Media Manager for the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Junior Hockey League and holds a diploma in social work and a Bachelor of Commerce in marketing from Lakehead University.
Cassandra Olson
[edit](Business Operations Assistant)
Cassandra Olson is a Canadian academic and sports operations assistant with the Warman Wolverines.[10] She is pursuing a PhD in sociology at the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Fredericton, and has worked as a power-skating coach and in event operations with the University of Calgary Dinos.
Arena
[edit]The Wolverines will play their home games at the city-owned Warman Home Centre Communiplex (WHCC), which was built in 2011.[11] The arena has capacity for 1,678 spectators, including 1,178 seated and 500 standing.[12] A $15 million (CAD) expansion project began in February 2024, and was expected to be completed in the summer of 2025.[13][14] The city also agreed to upgrade the score clock and other electronic audio-visual display boards in the arena.[15]
Warman Wolverines Roster
[edit]The following table lists players named to the Warman Wolverines’ preseason exhibition roster for the club’s inaugural 2025–26 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season.
Note: The roster includes forwards, defencemen and goaltenders drawn from Saskatchewan and other parts of Canada, along with several players from the United States.
| No. | Name | Pos | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Shoots / Catches | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Evin Bossel | F | 2006-11-16 | 6'0" | 160 lb | R | Grassland, AB |
| 17 | Bexson Fox | F | 2006-04-10 | 5'8" | 165 lb | L | High River, AB |
| 19 | Brodie Scopick | C | 2006-03-02 | 5'10" | 170 lb | L | Saskatoon, SK |
| 21 | Hudson Kerr | F | 2005-09-08 | 5'9" | 165 lb | R | St. Paul, MN |
| 22 | Peyton Allard | C | 2006-03-02 | 6'1" | 172 lb | R | Winnipeg, MB |
| 23 | Caleb Pockrant | F | 2007-02-23 | 6'2" | 174 lb | L | Meadow Lake, SK |
| 23 | Cam Sarna | C | 2007-12-08 | 5'9" | 160 lb | L | Portage La Prairie, MB |
| 27 | Riley Rich-Holden | F | 2006-01-25 | 6'3" | 205 lb | L | Saanichton, BC |
| 55 | Ethan Dundas | F | 2008-06-23 | 5'10" | 150 lb | L | Regina, SK |
| 59 | Owen Parks | F | 2007-11-27 | 5'8" | 155 lb | L | Long Beach, CA |
| 60 | Caleb Buck | F | 2009-09-26 | 5'7" | 150 lb | L | Saskatoon, SK |
| 61 | Dylan Greenwald | F | 2007-06-27 | 6'0" | 181 lb | R | Oak Park, IL |
| 63 | Trae Lees | RW | 2006-01-22 | 6'0" | 175 lb | R | Warman, SK |
| 63 | Markus Thompson | F | 2006-02-13 | 5'9" | 165 lb | L | Warman, SK |
| 64 | Kayden Yeaman | F | 2007-05-14 | 6'0" | 174 lb | R | Lake Newell Resort, AB |
| 67 | Brady Keith | F | 2009-01-30 | 6'0" | 168 lb | R | Prince Albert, SK |
| 68 | Cruz Stacey | F | 2008-07-15 | 6'0" | 165 lb | L | Prince Albert, SK |
| 70 | Jackson Roberts | F | 2007-09-25 | 6'2" | 190 lb | R | Cranbrook, BC |
| 71 | Sawyer Scheidt | F | 2008-05-28 | 5'8" | 155 lb | L | Warman, SK |
| 72 | Camryn Aebig | F | 2010-03-15 | 5'4" | 134 lb | L | Warman, SK |
| 74 | Rafael Ramazanov | F | 2009-11-13 | 5'5" | 130 lb | R | Saskatoon, SK |
| 75 | Maclean Ethier | F | 2010-01-21 | 5'6" | 134 lb | L | Warman, SK |
| 78 | Xander Pritchard | F | 2009-02-04 | 6'3" | 174 lb | L | Saskatoon, SK |
| 79 | Corbin Nieman | F | 2008-05-16 | 5'10" | 134 lb | R | Outlook, SK |
| 81 | Brodyn Pladson | F | 2008-01-19 | 5'9" | 150 lb | R | Moose Jaw, SK |
| 82 | Carter Hudyma | F | 2008-05-30 | 5'11" | 161 lb | L | Moose Jaw, SK |
| 83 | Luc Smith | F | 2009-11-14 | 6'2" | 185 lb | L | Saskatoon, SK |
| 85 | Quinn McKenzie | F | 2007-10-26 | 6'2" | 207 lb | L | Foothills, AB |
| 86 | Tee Hagel | F | 2007-11-16 | 5'11" | 146 lb | R | Airdrie, AB |
| 88 | Kane Kennedy | F | 2005-12-03 | 6'1" | 165 lb | R | Airdrie, AB |
| 89 | Lucas Frame | F | 2007-07-06 | 6'1" | 176 lb | R | Calgary, AB |
| 90 | Lachlan Hanton | F | 2007-08-04 | 6'0" | 179 lb | R | Calgary, AB |
| 91 | Cruz Bear | F | 2009-01-03 | 5'9" | 146 lb | R | Ochapowace First Nation, SK |
| 92 | Dayce Derkatch | F | – | – | – | R | – |
| 2 | Dryden Ekstrom | D | 2008-02-04 | 5'11" | 161 lb | L | Wadena, SK |
| 2 | Vincent Palmarin | D | 2005-11-19 | 6'2" | 205 lb | R | Wilcox, SK |
| 2 | Brendan Quinn-Lagria | D | 2005-01-20 | 5'9" | 165 lb | R | Saskatoon, SK |
| 4 | Pherson Loehndorf | D | 2007-01-18 | 6'1" | 185 lb | L | Macklin, SK |
| 12 | Wylie Smith | D | 2006-04-17 | 6'3" | 195 lb | R | Carnwood, AB |
| 16 | Luke Lawford | D | 2006-01-24 | 5'11" | 165 lb | L | Calgary, AB |
| 58 | Karson Kerbes | D | 2006-08-25 | 6'2" | 192 lb | R | St. Albert, AB |
| 62 | Morgan Thompson | D | 2009-02-27 | 5'9" | 161 lb | L | Warman, SK |
| 65 | Harrison Todd | D | 2007-07-02 | 6'1" | 165 lb | L | Calgary, AB |
| 66 | Cooper Stockdale | D | 2007-07-24 | 6'1" | 190 lb | L | Delta, BC |
| 69 | Michael Tate | D | 2007-09-18 | 5'8" | 170 lb | L | Milford, MI |
| 73 | Wyatt Jordan | D | 2008-04-02 | 6'0" | 165 lb | R | Saskatoon, SK |
| 77 | Easton Bley | D | 2009-02-08 | 6'1" | 174 lb | L | Saskatoon, SK |
| 80 | Easton Moore | D | 2009-03-28 | 6'0" | 161 lb | R | Saskatoon, SK |
| 87 | Codey Sawin | D | 2007-01-05 | 6'0" | 161 lb | R | Kelowna, BC |
| 30 | Steven Wawryk | G | 2008-02-18 | 5'10" | 160 lb | Catches: L | Airdrie, AB |
| 35 | Eric Kahl | G | 2006-02-01 | 6'2" | 180 lb | Catches: L | Saskatoon, SK |
| 35 | Kaden Perron | G | 2006-03-06 | 6'5" | 200 lb | Catches: L | White City, SK |
| 76 | Domenik McInenly | G | 2007-01-15 | 6'1" | 181 lb | Catches: L | Red Deer, AB |
| 84 | Evan Hutcheon | G | 2008-02-14 | 5'9" | 154 lb | Catches: L | Regina, SK |
| 93 | Griffin Wright | G | – | – | – | Catches: R | – |
Coaching Staff
[edit]| Staff | Role / Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Brett Pilkington | General Manager / Head Coach | [16] |
| Nick Doyle | Assistant Coach | [17] |
| Story Navrot | Trainer | [18] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Press, Canadian. "Saskatchewan hockey team Notre Dame Hounds set to relocate". saskNOW | Saskatchewan | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Classifieds. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b Romuld, Darrell (12 March 2025). "From Hounds to Wolverines: SJHL's Warman franchise gets a new name". CTV News Regina. Bell Media. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Meet the Warman Wolverines. CTV News Regina. Bell Media. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Mattes, Austin (12 March 2025). "New Warman SJHL team reveals name, logo and colours". 650 CKOM. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ a b Nielsen, Nick. "Behind the scenes in welcoming the Wolverines to Warman". larongeNOW. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Content, Sponsored. "Cole Kachur: Transforming Wealth Management with Exceptional Results". paNOW. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Monteleone, Teena. "Warman Wolverines confident in support as decision on final approval looms". saskNOW | Saskatchewan | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Classifieds. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Clavet arena fundraising campaign gets major boost – Clark's Crossing Gazette". Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Zary, Darren (27 August 2025). "The Wolverines will open the SJHL pre-season with a neutral-site exhibition game this Sunday against the La Ronge Ice Wolves in Aberdeen". Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
- ^ a b "Business Operations". Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Clausing, Shane (18 June 2024). "Warman begins construction of third ice sheet at rec centre". 650 CKOM. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Perez, Jon (27 February 2025). "Warman mayor sees positive gains on Hounds' relocation". SaskToday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Pugh, Terry (19 March 2025). "Warman communiplex expansion on schedule". Clark's Crossing Gazette. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Bosker, Brent (20 December 2023). "Warman City Council approves arena expansion project". 650 CKOM. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Pugh, Terry (2 June 2025). "Warman council commits $300K for arena upgrades". Clark's Crossing Gazette. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ "Brett Pilkington - GM/Head Coach, Warman Wolverines (SJHL) - Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Nick Doyle - Assistant Coach, Warman Wolverines (SJHL) - Elite Prospects". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Story Navrot - Stats, Contract, Salary & More". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
Sources
[edit]- "Warman arena expansion project to start in February – Clark's Crossing Gazette". Clark's Crossing Gazette. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- Clausing, Shane (18 February 2025). "Future ownership group excited for Notre Dame Hounds' move to Warman". 650 CKOM.
- Romuld, Darrell; Maess, Donovan (19 February 2025). "'Bittersweet': SJHL conditionally approves move of Notre Dame Hounds to Warman". CTVNews Regina. Bell Media. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- "'It's bittersweet': SJHL commissioner Kyle McIntyre explains why Notre Dame Hounds are moving to Warman". MooseJawToday.com. Harvard Media. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- Shire, Taylor (22 February 2025). "Deep dive into why the Notre Dame Hounds are giving up Jr. A hockey". paherald.sk.ca. Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- Weyland, Blaine (10 March 2025). "The Notre Dame Hounds will become the Warman Wolverines next season". discoverhumboldt.com. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- "Warman Wolverines confident in support as decision on final approval looms". 980 CJME. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- Walchuk, Benny (7 June 2025). "Warman Wolverines officially approved for 2025–26 SJHL season". SaskToday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- Nielsen, Nick (7 June 2025). "Warman Wolverines officially newest team in SJHL". paNOW. Pattison Media. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- "Warman Wolverines officially newest team in SJHL". 650 CKOM. 8 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- Walchuk, Benny (9 June 2025). "SJHL welcomes Warman Wolverines, adopt new player protection rule at annual general meeting". SaskToday.ca. Harvard Media. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- Pugh, Terry (10 June 2025). "Aebig chosen first overall by Warman Wolverines in SJHL draft – Clark's Crossing Gazette". Clark's Crossing Gazette. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- "Wolverines make first ever SJHL draft pick". CTV News. Bell Media. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- Roblin, Scott (11 June 2025). "Warman Wolverines receive approval to join SJHL, make franchise's first draft picks". Global News. Corus Entertainment. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
