The waiting and anticipation for the Battlefords North Stars training camp is over.
Head coach Kevin Hasselberg was on the ice twice Wednesday for the practice sessions and was in the stands watching the first of two Team White versus Team Black games of the camp.
It is his first time seeing all the players on the ice at once and as he learns who the players are he will be evaluating his potential roster.
The camp roster includes six goalies, 13 defencemen and 29 forwards. Hasselberg elected to go with two teams and see what the players have to offer at a higher intensity level. A few players have already dropped out of action or have been in the stands watching the entire time with what appear to be minor injuries, but those who are playing are doing what they can to impress.
"We went straight to two teams, so the intensity is right there from the get go," said Brett Miller, who scored twice in Wednesday's game and had at least one assist. "It was like a Black and White game right from the start so I think everyone has to battle hard and put everything on the line because we only have two practices and two short games before we play exhibition."
Miller was one of the 10 players from last season's roster returning to the team. The list of veterans includes 1991-born goaltender Graham Hildebrand, 1991 defencemen Travis Sparrow and Woody Klassen and 1992 defenceman Zach MacLellan. The forwards hoping to earn a roster spot again this year include 1991s Blake Tatchell, Brett Miller and Boyd Wakelin and 1992s Tanner Schwab, Tim Rollins, Braeden Johnson and Kyle Hall.
All the veterans wore different coloured jerseys during the practices and scrimmage, as Hasselberg looks to his veteran players to step forward and show leadership on this team.
Two days of evaluation isn't much time for a new coach, but Hasselberg plans to use the exhibition games Friday and Saturday against the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Lloydminster Bobcats as a great tool for evaluation as well. Throwing some of the players into the fire, so to speak may be the best way to get a feel for whether or not they can play junior hockey in the Battlefords.
Not only is there an adjustment for coaching a new team for Hasselberg, but for all the players he is a new bench boss.
"The intensity that he brings to the team and the guys know that if you want to be here you will have to earn it," said Klassen of his new head coach. "We just have to appreciate his passion for our team and I look forward to seeing where he can take the team."
In an interview days after being hired for the general manger and coaching job, Hasselberg said he hopes to have a honest hardworking team, and that showed through his Wednesday practice sessions, as he had some neutral ice and flow drills for the players, but later worked on puck battle drills - a quick way to find what kind of character his players and team will have for the 2011-12 season.
The first Black and White game was decided by a shootout after Team Black won 7-6. Along with Miller's two goals, Hall, Ryne Keller, Tatchell and Steven Garcia scored in regulation. Team White's goals came from Carter Danczak, Brendan Hawryluk, Austin Dyok, Jared Samborski, Eric Pfeifer and Tanner Sodkowicz. Garcia scored the lone goal in the shootout for the win.
With the busy scheduled and short time to evaluate the players, Hasselberg couldn't be contacted by press time, but for more information on the camp go to http://trentcey.wordpress.com/ to read an update blog from camp.
