The Leduc Riggers have signed an affiliation agreement with the Camrose Kodiaks and Riggers coach Dean Gauvreau couldn't be happier.

"It will benefit Camrose because they will be able to have some of their players come to Leduc to play with the Riggers and also be affiliated with the Kodiaks," Gauvreau said. "If the Kodiaks run into injuries or if their players are not working up to their potential, they can call up players (from the Riggers)."

Gauvreau said this agreement is positive for the Riggers — who are already scheduled to host the provincial championships and have a bye — because players will be working hard for their Junior B team, knowing at any time they could be called up to Junior A.

"It's a good recruiting tool," he said. "This will affect our roster to the point where guys trying out for the Kodiaks might be assigned to the Riggers with the intention of being called up to Camrose."

Boris Rybalka, coach of the Camrose Kodiaks said he is really excited to be working with the Leduc team. "I got to meet the head coach and I think it's going to be a great win-win for both organizations," Rybalka said.

Rybalka said with the Riggers hosting the Junior B Provincial Championships and the Kodiaks hosting the 2011 RBC Cup, Canada's national Junior A championship, both organizations will benefit by working together.

"Obviously we will have affiliations set up there with them where if we needs players we can bring them up and we will be able to send them players when we do our releases at the beginning of the year," Rybalka said. Rybalka added it will be great for the kids playing in Leduc.

"Especially this year, with us hosting the RBC Cup, the kids know that if they are playing with the Leduc Riggers, they might have the chance to be called up by the Kodiaks any time during the year."

Rybalka said he thinks it would be foolish for a young player who is looking at playing Junior B to not play in Leduc because they are going to play with a good organization, get good coaching and turn around and be affiliated with the Camrose Kodiaks.

"I think it's going to be a great working partnership," said Rybalka.