The Whistler Wolves are back up and running.
As incumbent Rugby League British Columbia (RLBC) champions, the Wolves are hungry to defend their throne. Yet they're even hungrier about one long-term goal: foster the growth of Sea to Sky rugby.
Head coach Blake Stewart reports that 22 players showed up to the first training session in late April, with half the group being composed of newcomers. He also holds aspirations of growing Whistler's youth program from 16 registrants last year to more than 20, for a strong pipeline will make the organization more competitive at all levels.
"We won [the RLBC] for the first time in our club's history in 2024, which was great, knowing that we've only been around for four years," Stewart said. "Last year we actually had the most registered players for the men ever, and we also launched our youth program."
Due to resource constraints, the Wolves' underagers were only able to partake in four days of friendly matches against a squad out of Langley. This year, the plan is to establish a formal competitive structure between Whistler, Langley and a Vancouver-based unit: a six-week campaign that minimizes travel for all involved and leads directly into a Grand Final.
Stewart knows demand is high: at the end of 2024 he heard virtually all of his young athletes clamouring for more. Players will again range from 15 to 19 years old this summer, depending on experience and talent level.
On and off the field
As for the senior men, fellowship was vital to their unprecedented breakthrough in league action, with team-voted Player of the Year Harvey Lew and captain Josh Michalik spearheading the charge.
"We kept on building camaraderie. I think last year was an all-time high for the club, regardless if they were in the first 13 or a [bench player], everyone was going for a common goal," recounted Stewart. "We were able to get buses to every single away game, and I do think that helped us come together as a group a lot more.
"Everyone just bought into what we do. I think for the last four years, it was always about figuring out what we wanted to be as a club, but [in 2024] everyone clicked into gear. We had a bit of an identity of what the rules are and what everyone wanted to help—that showed on and off the field. To be honest, it was easily the strongest position we've been in both on and off. For all those reasons, that's why we're able to deliver."
The fun will kick off on May 31 as RLBC's annual Nines tournament circles back to Whistler. Having won this particular contest in 2023, the Wolves look forward to adding another trophy to their case.
"It's a great way to start the season and it's a pretty relaxed day," Stewart said. "It's a way to introduce people that have never seen rugby league because of the shorter games—they're only 18 minutes long and you get to play a lot of games in one day so that learning curve can happen quite quickly."
Whistler shares a number of athletes with the Axemen from Squamish, who play rugby union in winter and spring months. Having come off a notable season in their own right, Axemen veterans bring both experience and positive momentum to the Wolves dressing room in a symbiotic relationship for both clubs.
The Wolves are currently in need of a sponsor for their youth team, and Stewart hopes that anyone interested to help will reach out to the organization's Facebook or Instagram pages.
