After having their four-year run as HJHL Champions halted last season by the Coaldale Copperheads, the Okotoks Bisons are taking their first step towards another title run this year.

The Bisons open their main camp on Thursday, with their sights set on another championship-calibre team.

Bisons GM Jay McFarlane says it's been a long off-season, and everyone's ready to get going again.

"We're optimistic and excited to get going on a new season," he says. "We'll wait and see, the numbers for registration are high, so there will be a lot of skaters we have to sort through in a short period of time, because regular season begins on the 25th. So, it's all eyes on the ice for the next four days."

McFarlane says each year, they usually see about half of the previous season's roster return to camp.

"It looks to be about the same this year," he says. "Again, how does that mix in with new guys, everyone's looking for a spot and nobody's got a guaranteed spot, so Thursday will be the beginning of that chase."

McFarlane says with three pre-season games coming up on Sep. 18, 19 and 20, the roster should start to take shape quickly.

"I think that after our last skate in main camp, which is Sunday in our red and white game, we'll be down to some workable numbers that we can head into exhibition season with," he says.

The Bisons host the High River Flyers in a pre-season match-up on Sep. 18, then head to Coaldale on Sep. 19 before wrapping up exhibition play against the Flyers in High River on Sep. 20.

They kick off the HJHL regular season Sep. 25 at home against the Red Deer Vipers.