LAC LA BICHE – The Lac La Biche Lakers are preparing to head to the league finals this weekend.
On March 18, the Lakers shut down the Edson Eagles 3-2 in front of a large hometown crowd at Lac La Biche Bold Centre, after playing four games in a best of five series to determine who would be the winner of the NJHL North Division.
In the finals, the Lakers will be facing off against the Crowsnest Pass Crush, the top team in the NJHL’s South Division.
The Lac La Biche Lakers are in their inaugural season with the National Junior Hockey League (NJHL).
The first two games of the league finals will take place on home ice at the Bold Centre on March 21 at 7:30 p.m. and March 22 at 2 p.m. Games three, four, and five of the series are scheduled to take place in Crowsnest Pass on March 28, 29, and 30.
Before taking on the Eagles, who finished the regular season in first place in the five-team NJHL North Division, the Lakers faced off against the High Prairie Red Wings in the first round.
Going up against the Red Wings, who are four-time champions and are generally strong in the playoffs was a challenge, said Gatlin Church, head coach of the Lac La Biche Lakers.
“They played us hard.”
The first game of the second round of the 2025 NJHL North Division semifinals against the Edson Eagles took place at the Bold Centre on March 14.
Although the Lakers lost that game 4-3 on home ice, Church explained that the players showed a lot of commitment to the game plan going forward and adjusted accordingly. These changes included team captain Larry Flett going from playing centre to playing defense for the remaining three games.
“We were able to use those adjustments to change the outcome of the series and we beat the top team in the North who lost seven games all year,” Church told Lakeland This Week. “We beat them three in a row to allow us a shot at the league championship in Crowsnest.”
According to Church, the current situation with the first-year Lakers is dramatically different than it was when he arrived to take on coaching duties in the fall. At that time, the team was one and six and did not have the skill or commitment that it would develop throughout the season.
While fan support was low at the beginning of the season, this also turned around as the Lakers progressed and fought their way to the NJHL finals.
“It’s really truly been a Cinderella story,” he said. “It feels surreal now that we’ve advanced to the league championship.”
The Lakers are now preparing for the finals against the Crowsnest Pass Crush. Players have been training by doing light workouts and skating practices, aiming to stay healthy but not burn out.
The mood among the Lakers’ roster is very positive.
“The guys are riding a lot of confidence,” said Church. “It doesn’t get any easier, but I think we’re ready for the challenge.
On the evening of March 22, after the second game of the series against Crowsnest Pass, the Lakers organization will be hosting a comedy night at the Fat Unicorn combined with the team’s awards night.
This event will also act as a team fundraiser.
When the Lakers hit the ice at the Bold Centre on March 21 for the first game of the series, team officials are hoping for a good turnout of fans to cheer on the team.
“If we can open up at home and somehow win two on home ice, I think we’re definitely going to set ourselves up to win a league championship in our first year.”
