A former St. John’s Fog Devil says the new QMJHL team in St. John’s will have a significant impact on the local minor hockey community in this province.

St. John’s native Wes Welcher played three seasons with the Fog Devils and was on hand for last week’s name and logo announcement for the Newfoundland Regiment.

He says playing in the QMJHL in your home province is a surreal feeling, saying he’s excited to see the next generation of hockey players have a chance to play high-level hockey in their own backyard.

Welcher told VOCM News seeing the excitement for the team brought him back to his playing days in the QMJHL, which lasted four seasons.