The Prince Rupert Minor Hockey SeaWolves' total participant list has just surpassed the 200 mark on the cusp of the 2014/2015 season, after sitting at 196 last week.
After a slow start in the number of entrants, the totals have increased in the 11th hour as more families find the funds to join the program and the public education-government dispute comes to a close.
"We're looking pretty good," said minor hockey head coach Gary Coons.
"Just the other day I had two people call me – their kids aren't involved in hockey and they moved to town and want to get involved so I've been getting some emails and calls. There's going to be a midget [division] rep team, a bantam rep team and a peewee rep team; so we're going to be fielding those. Last year there was no bantam rep team."
There will be no house league for midgets – just the rep team because of low numbers.
"There's about 16 or 18 kids registered ... they'll organize whatever they need to do – some exhibition games — when they're not playing in the rep leagues," said Coons.
Minor hockey is looking for volunteers who may like to help out here and there, especially with the older divisions. Most of the head coaches are already in place. They can contact Coons at garycoons@live.com or the Sea Wolves at secretary@prmha.com and will need to submit to a criminal background check and a "respect in sport" online course.
Initiation "A" and "B" sessions will still run for kids aged four to six who are willing to learn how to skate and play hockey. Some children who already know the fundamentals may be placed in the second-year "B" division immediately.