The Sylvan Lake Admirals are serious about competing with the big boys in the Chinook Hockey League.

The senior AAA mens hockey club, formerly known as the West Central Alberta AA Rams, has announced the addition of an off-ice professional training facility for their players to use.

Admirals’ players will now have access to Best Body Fitness Centre, owned by Scott McDermott, so that top player conditioning can be achieved and maintained.

“Scott McDermott, one of Canada’s elite triathletes, is more than aware of the conditioning required to compete at a championship level,” said Admirals general manager and head coach Jason Stephens.

“He was very pleased to be able to assist in our team training needs.”

All Admirals will be given access to the Fitness Centre, free of charge, during the hockey season, and Stephens says that’s paramount if his team is to have success this year.

“Hockey players that have played at an advanced level normally have a fitness room as part of the team’s facility,” said Stephens in a release.

“Conditioning is an absolute necessity to help prevent injuries and compete at the elite level. Players coming to camp expect things to be run in a professional way and having this well equipped facility available just enhances what we want to provide for our players.”

The Admirals announced last month that they would be moving up to the top level next season and competing against the other AAA clubs in the CHL, those being the Bentley Generals, the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs, and the Stony Plain Screaming Eagles.

Training camp is set to open Sept 1 and two exhibition games will be scheduled, although those dates have not yet been announced.