Claresholm Cowboys Begin New Chapter In USPHL Premier

The United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) has announced that the Diamond Valley Rockies have relocated to Claresholm, Alberta, and will begin play as the Claresholm Cowboys for the 2026-27 USPHL Premier season.

The Cowboys will play their home games at Claresholm Arena, bringing USPHL Premier junior hockey to a community with a strong hockey foundation and local support.

“Claresholm was the right fit because it offers everything a successful junior hockey organization needs to thrive,” said Ryan McKenzie, Co-Owner of the Claresholm Cowboys. “The community has a strong passion for hockey, outstanding local support, and a facility that was built with junior hockey in mind. Having a dedicated junior team dressing room, coaches’ room, and a first-class arena provides our players with an environment that reflects the professionalism and
standards we want to uphold every day.”

Led by McKenzie and partner Sean Robertson, with Riley Smith serving as Head Coach and General Manager and Marc Suderman as Assistant Coach, the Cowboys are focused on building a strong player-first organization while becoming an important part of the Claresholm community.

“What excites us most is the opportunity to build something that the community can truly call its own,” McKenzie added. “We want to become more than just a hockey team. We want to be a source of community pride, inspire the next generation of players, and create an exciting game-day atmosphere that brings families and fans together.”

The organization is looking forward to developing strong relationships with local businesses, youth hockey teams, schools and community groups while providing players with a high-level junior hockey experience both on and off the ice.

“This next chapter is about establishing a lasting tradition of junior hockey excellence in Claresholm,” McKenzie said. “We want to build an organization that represents the values of hard work, character and community while competing at a high level in the USPHL Premier.”

The USPHL Premier congratulates the Claresholm Cowboys on this next chapter and looks forward to seeing the organization continue to grow in its new Alberta home.