The Whitecourt Wolverines are building up their roster for the 2026-2027 Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) season with players signing to multiple positions.
Goaltenders
Coming from Kamloops, B.C., 2006-born Jesse Sanche has committed to the Wolverines as a goaltender.
The organization says he spent his last season between the Western Hockey League (WHL), British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MJHL).
Over four seasons in the WHL in Kamloops, Everett and Penticton, Sanche posted 30 wins, 30 losses and four overtime losses.
“With no goalies coming back, we had a need for a seasoned veteran starting goalie. I feel that adding Jesse will continue the good run we have had here of starting goalies,” said Head Coach Shawn Martin.
Defencemen
The Whitecourt Wolverines have signed 2009-born Logan Alexis, of Calgary, for the upcoming season.
Last season, he played with the Airdrie Bisons in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) U18 AAA league, where he compiled 10 points in 34 games while leading the entire league with 133 penalty minutes.
“Logan came into spring camp and stood out with his aggressive style of play. He will make it hard for opposing players to come into JDA Place this season,” commented Martin.
Joining him will be 2009-born Ryder Schnitzler, of Sherwood Park.
Coming from two seasons with the AEHL U18 AAA Sherwood Park Kings, the organization says he collected 42 points in 70 games and added seven points in 13 playoff games.
“Ryder is a very smart player, with the puck and defensively. He is going to develop into a very good defenceman in our league,” said Martin.
The left-shot rearguard was also a ninth-round draft selection by the Prince George Cougars in the 2024 WHL Draft.
Justin Pichette, of Trois-Rivières, Que., will also join the team.
The 2008-born defenceman played for the Midwest Prep Hockey League Ste-Cécile Stallions U18 Prep team last season, where he earned 28 points in 39 games while serving as team captain.
Martin commented, “Justin skates well and has good vision with the puck. He will be a good add to a deep returning blue line group.”
Forwards
A few forwards have been signed this summer, including 2008-born Jake Banicevic.
From Port Moody, B.C., he played last season with the U18 AAA Vancouver NE Chiefs. The team finished first with only six losses during the regular season, with Banicevic finishing fourth in league scoring. He netted 50 points in 34 games, the club says.
“Jake is a quick player with a very good skill set, we are happy to add him to our forward mix,” Martin said.
Also joining the team is 2007-born Eliot Labbe, hailing from Mirabel, Que.
He spent the previous season playing for the Ridley Tigers of the Canadian Athletic Hockey Society, where he compiled 52 points in 52 games.
Martin commented, “Eliot has been able to put good offensive numbers up with two strong prep school programs. We’re excited he chose Whitecourt to start his junior career.”
Banicevic and Labbe will be joined on the ice by 2006-born Sidney Deslauriers from the Saint-Jérôme Panthères of the Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL). He was acquired for a player development fee.
Deslauriers had 56 points in 48 games in the 2025-2026 regular season and added 12 points in 11 playoff games.
He was also a third-round pick in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft and played 105 games between the Moncton Wildcats and Victoriaville Tigres.
Martin said Deslauriers “does a lot of things well,” and will make a great addition to the team.
“My belief is that we can push this year and bring a championship to Whitecourt,” Deslauriers said. “I can’t wait to meet all the guys and get to work.”
Coming from Calgary, 2008-born Braxton Alaric has also committed to the team.
The club says Alaric has spent two seasons with the U18 AAA Calgary Buffaloes and last season, finished second on the team with 42 points in 33 games. He also led his team in playoff points, netting nine across four games.
After playing three affiliate games with the Wolverines last season, Alaric is also raring to secure a championship win for the team.
“Braxton spent a lot of time with us last year and he obviously can put up points, but I noticed an athlete that competes hard and has a keen attention to detail,” stated Martin.
Coming from Edmonton, officials say 2009-born Memphis Adeniken joins the Wolverines after a season with the AEHL U18 AAA Edmonton Jr. Oilers, who were league finalists.
That season, he was first on his team after earning 53 points in 38 games. He was also fifth in the entire AEHL.
Martin commented, “Memphis had a very good year last year and we feel that he can bring an offensive element to our hockey club. We try to bring in winners, and we believe Memphis fits that mold.”
Meantime, the club reports that Sherwood Park product Landon Horiachka has signed a letter of intent with the Wolverines.
The 2009-born forward spent the last season with the U18 AAA Sherwood Park Kings, finishing third on the team with 34 points in 33 games.
He is also a prospect for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League WHL.
Despite a serious injury at the start of last season, Martin said Horiachka had a good season. At six-feet-two-inches, he added that Horiachka is well-suited to the team’s style of hockey.
