The McKenzie County Public School District No. 1 put out a press release on Thursday, Apr. 2, announcing that Watford City High School will add both boys and girls hockey athletics programs for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.

Both teams will compete in the Western Dakota Association conference of the North Dakota High School Activities Association.

“We are excited to add boys and girls hockey to our athletic programs,” said Watford City High School Activities Director Bradley Foss in the release. “Hockey has been part of our community for a long time, and adding this sport to our high school will increase opportunities for our students while strengthening community connections.”

As part of the WDA, the new Wolves hockey teams will face off against the likes of the Bismarck and Minot United Hockey teams, though additional details regarding schedules and program development will be shared later ahead of the 2026-2027 season.

Thursday’s release states that the expansion into hockey programs for the school comes after a growing interest in hockey in the Watford City community and that the new additions are part of the McKenzie County Public School District No. 1’s effort to expand the number of extracurricular activities for the students.

“Expanding our athletic offerings to include high school hockey reflects both student interest and long-standing community support for this sport,” said Superintendent Dr. Steve Holen in the release. “We are proud to provide additional extracurricular opportunities for students to get involved, build relationships, and represent Watford City High School in new ways.”