Coming off a season in which three of its five DVHL teams reached the playoffs, two played for championships, and one brought home a DVHL title, Stampede is preparing to raise the level again.

Three of the club’s five teams will move up in classification this season, giving players another opportunity to challenge themselves against stronger competition. With 75 players, five DVHL teams, and a culture built around work ethic, accountability, and development, Stampede isn’t interested in standing still.

The goal is to keep moving forward.

And preferably, to do it fast.

Raising the Level

Stampede will field five teams in DVHL competition this season:

10U A National — Head Coach Kristin Kowalek
12U A American — Head Coach Todd Yeager
14U A National — Head Coach Eric Kowalek
16U A National — Head Coach Brian Wolfe
18U A National — Head Coach Kyle Davis

There aren’t any new teams or age groups for 2026–27, but that doesn’t mean things are staying the same.

Three of Stampede’s five teams are moving up a level from last season.

It’s a deliberate step for an organization that wants its players challenged.

The club understands that stronger divisions may bring tougher games and new obstacles, but those experiences are also essential to development.

Stampede wants to compete.

But it also wants players continually pushed beyond where they were a season ago.

12U Ready for Another Run

One of the teams to watch will be Todd Yeager’s 12U A American group.

The team returns a strong core of experienced players and will add several standouts moving up from last season’s 10U team — a group that finished as DVHL runner-up.

That combination of returning experience and young talent gives Stampede plenty of reason for optimism.

The expectation is that Yeager will have the group prepared to compete immediately and position itself for another deep postseason run.

But 12U isn’t the only Stampede team entering the year with championship aspirations.

The Chase for Three

At 16U, the objective couldn’t be much clearer.

Go win it again.

Last season’s 16U A American team captured the DVHL Championship, giving Stampede one of the defining moments of its 2025–26 season.

For many of the players, however, winning isn’t a new experience.

Head Coach Brian Wolfe has guided much of this group to back-to-back championships.

Now comes an opportunity few teams ever get:

A three-peat.

The 16U group moves into A National this season, increasing the difficulty of that challenge. But for a team accustomed to playing meaningful hockey late in the year, that’s exactly the type of opportunity Stampede wants.

The target will be there.

So will the expectations.

And the defending champions will be ready.

Speed With Purpose

Stampede wants its name reflected in the way its teams play.

Fast.
Competitive.
Structured.
Aggressive.

But speed isn’t simply about skating quickly.

The organization’s development philosophy emphasizes speed, structure, decision-making, hockey sense, teamwork, and accountability.

Players need to process the game quickly.

Support one another.

Make decisions under pressure.

Understand their responsibilities.

And compete consistently.

The objective is to develop hockey players capable of succeeding at higher levels rather than simply teaching them how to win at their current one.

That’s an important distinction for Stampede.

Winning is part of competitive hockey.

Development makes that success sustainable.

Experience, Energy, and Hockey IQ

Behind the players is a coaching staff Stampede believes is capable of pushing the organization forward.

The club describes its staff as a blend of experience, energy, and modern hockey IQ.

Regardless of age level, coaches share the same fundamental expectations: communicate with players, create a positive environment, demand accountability, and make development the priority.

As the competitive level increases throughout the organization this season, that consistency behind the bench will become even more important.

Three teams are moving up.

The divisions will be difficult.

Expectations are rising.

Quality coaching is what turns those challenges into opportunities.

Small Club Connection. Big Club Expectations.

Stampede believes one of its greatest strengths comes from combining two things that don’t always exist together in youth hockey.

Small-club connection and big-club professionalism.

With 75 players across five DVHL teams, families can remain closely connected to the organization.

Players matter.
Families know one another.
Coaches communicate.
And wearing the Stampede crest carries a genuine sense of belonging.

At the same time, the expectations aren’t small.

Players are expected to work.

Coaches are expected to develop.

Teams are expected to compete.

And everyone representing Stampede is expected to do it the right way.

The organization’s core values reinforce that standard:

Work ethic.
Respect.
Development.
Accountability.
Community.

Rivalries Are Heating Up

There’s also another source of excitement surrounding Stampede this season.

The rivalries are getting better.

As teams improve and divisions become more competitive, familiar opponents start appearing in bigger games.

Regular-season matchups become playoff races.

Close games create history.

History creates rivalries.

And rivalries make the season more fun.

Stampede enters 2026–27 knowing there will be plenty of difficult nights throughout the DVHL schedule.

That’s exactly what the club wants.

Building on a Breakthrough Season

The 2025–26 season established a strong foundation.

Three of five Stampede teams qualified for the DVHL playoffs.

The 10U A American team finished runner-up.

The 14U A American team finished runner-up.

And the 16U A American team finished the job, winning the DVHL Championship.

Those results demonstrated competitive depth throughout the organization.

But they also raised the standard.

Now the challenge is turning one strong season into sustained success.

That means continuing to develop players while competing in stronger divisions.

It means maintaining the club’s culture as expectations increase.

And it means understanding that last season’s accomplishments don’t guarantee anything once the puck drops again.

Bring the Energy

Under the leadership of Club President Wendy Davis and Hockey Director Coty Heater, Stampede enters its 21st season with a simple message for everyone representing the organization:

Bring energy. Bring effort. Represent the Stampede with pride every time you step on the ice.

That’s the identity the club wants opponents to experience throughout 2026–27.

A team may beat Stampede.

But it shouldn’t be easy.

The club wants to play fast, compete hard, develop its players, and continue building a program that prepares young athletes for whatever comes next.

When the final puck is dropped and the 2026–27 season is complete, Stampede already knows what it hopes people will say:

“They played fast, played hard, developed well, and represented the Stampede with pride.”

After a season featuring two finalists and a DVHL champion, the expectations are higher.

The competition will be stronger.
The rivalries will be hotter.
And the Stampede is coming.

Stampede Hockey Club at a Glance

Years in Existence: 21
DVHL Teams: 5
Players: 75
Home Rink: James R. Eister Youth & Community Center
Club President: Wendy Davis
Hockey Director: Coty Heater

2026–27 Teams

10U A National — Kristin Kowalek
12U A American — Todd Yeager
14U A National — Eric Kowalek
16U A National — Brian Wolfe
18U A National — Kyle Davis

2025–26 Highlights

Three of five DVHL teams qualified for the playoffs
10U A American — DVHL Runner-Up
14U A American — DVHL Runner-Up
16U A American — DVHL Champion
One DVHL Championship

Teams to Watch

12U A American: A strong returning core combines with several players moving up from last season’s 10U DVHL runner-up team.

16U A National: Much of the group has won back-to-back championships under Brian Wolfe and now moves up a level with an opportunity to chase a three-peat.

Club Values

Work Ethic. Respect. Development. Accountability. Community.

What to Watch in 2026–27

Can Stampede turn momentum into another championship run?

Three teams are moving up a level. The 12U group combines experience with an influx of talented younger players. The 16U team is chasing a third consecutive championship. And throughout the organization, expectations have risen following a season that sent three teams to the playoffs.

Stampede isn’t trying to repeat 2025–26. It’s trying to build on it.