The Yorkton Terriers' regular season kick-off is Friday in Weyburn, before returning to the Farrell Agencies Arena Saturday for their home opener.
The local Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League franchise is spending the week in practice sessions for the season start after wrapping up a preseason schedule which saw them win four games.
The lone blemish on the week came Sunday on home ice losing 3-2 to Estevan in overtime, after knotting the game 2-2 on a late goal by Jeremy Johnson.
Terrier head coach Trent Cassan wasn't putting too much value on the wins, or the loss, reminding preseason is about evaluation of talent more than the record compiled.
That said, Cassan said there were some definite positives to the week.
"We had some games where we were down and came back. That showed some character," he said.
At the same time, the Terrier head coach said the games did help identify"some things we need to work on."
Asked what sort of things that might entail, Cassan said it was "more individual stuff as players. Wehave seen some strengths of guys and some things guy need to work on."
And through preseason several players have impressed including 16-year-old Kailum Gervais.
"He's been pretty good. If he wasn't wearing a cage (required for minor hockey players) you wouldn't know he's 16," offered Cassan, adding he is cautiously optimistic about the young hopeful contributing this season.
"With young kids you take it slow to start with and see how he is playing against older guys."
Cassan also pointed to the play of Ryan Sookro, who he said has good size, "and he skates well and moves the puck well.
Centreman Curtis Oliver is a player the Terrier coach said "skates pretty well."
And on the blueline Curtis Baer is a defenceman his coach noted came to camp in "real good shape," and has worked hard through camp and preseason.
With the large turnover of players this season due to Junior graduations at the end of last season, Cassan was asked if he anticipated a more defence oriented Terrier team this season?
"I think we were pretty defensive last season," he replied. "We had one of the lowest goals against as it was. I think any time you want to be conscious of the defensive end. I think as a team you want to be good defensively."
Cassan said offence starts off solid defence head-manning the puck up the ice. So will the Terrier offence be as effective as last season?
"I guess we'll see," offered Cassan, adding it will come down to players taking another step in terms of being Junior players.
Heading into regular season action Cassan said he would anticipate carrying a roster of about 25 players, although it may take most of this week to determine who those 25 are. There is even a chance there may be a new face, or two coming into the mix, although Cassan said no one new is an imminent arrival. "I haven't heard anything," said Cassan. It is also the time players are released by other Junior teams and that may mean calls from players looking for another chance.
