As he heads into his first training camp as the head coach and general manager of the Battlefords North Stars, Brandon Heck is looking forward to having a number of players to choose from when it comes to putting together the team for the 2017-18 season.
“When I was in Camrose [as the head coach of the Bantam AAA Red Wings program] we’d always joke about being the farm team for the other teams in the league,” Heck said. “We’d start out tryouts with 30 players then we’d get 20 more guys making their way to us after Red Deer, Leduc and Sherwood Park made their cuts.
“To come here and be in a situation where players from all over want to come and play for the North Stars with the success the team has had over the last few years, it’s a good spot to be in.”
Although he’s seen many of the players on video and had a chance to meet a few of them during the team’s golf tournament earlier this month, Wednesday’s fitness tests and Thursday’s on-ice scrimmages at the Civic Centre will mark the first time Heck will get an up close and personal look at those who are looking to make the North Stars.
“I’m really curious to see what everyone brings,” Heck said. “With the returning guys, I’ve been impressed with seeing many of them helping out at our hockey camp and the leadership they bring is something that we’ll be building on here in years to come.
“I’ve talked to many of the new guys over the phone and they know what to expect from me. They’ve been asking a lot of good questions and they are eager to get going.”
Although the exact number of players won’t be finalized until registration is complete and fitness tests begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, four teams will be battling it out in scrimmages starting Thursday at 9 a.m.
Cuts will be made Friday afternoon ahead of Saturday’s black and white game, which will take place at 1 p.m., with the final roster cuts being made afterwards.
“We’re really happy with the group of guys that we've got coming here as we want to be patient before making any deals,” Heck said. “It also gives the returning players that may have been down in the lineup a chance to earn more ice time.”
The North Stars can have both Taryn Kotchorek and Joel Grzybowski return in goal, but Grzybowski’s status is up in the air as he’s competing for a spot with the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades.
“It’s a situation where we really won’t know what will happen there until the Blades set their final roster,” Heck said.
“We’re fortunate to have Taryn here though. He wants to earn a scholarship in his final season, and he’ll have a chance to play in more games if Joel ends up moving on.”
On defence, the North Stars saw Kendall Fransoo and Zach Nedelec both out of the junior ranks, while Ryan Rosenberg and Connor Sych will also not be returning.
Conor Jensen, Levi Kleiboer, Connor Manegre and Cody Spagrud are all back for another campaign, while Mathew Fletcher and Austin Weiler will be looking to make the jump from the Saskatoon Blazers and Saskatoon Contacts midget programs.
Another face to watch out for on the blueline is Michael Fradette, who was acquired this summer from the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The biggest changes from last year’s team will be up front as eight players won’t be returning to the Civic Centre.
Jared Blaquiere, Reed Delainey, Coby Downs, Keaton Holinaty, Connor Logan and Logan Nachtegaele all graduated from junior hockey last spring, Bryce Hall is not expected to be back and Ben Allen was traded to the British Columbia Hockey League’s Penticton Vees.
Troy Gerein, Owen Lamb, MacGregor Sinclair and Layne Young are the four full time forwards back from last year’s squad, while affiliated players Blake Fenning, Connor McIntosh and Jayden Nachtegaele will all be looking to suit up on a regular basis this season.
Among the new faces acquired during the summer were Keith Anderson from the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Tre Doyon from the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Lloydminster Bobcats, Josh Sielsky from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Neepawa Natives and Jacob Tibbatts from the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League’s Yellowhead Chiefs.
“The competition isn’t just going to be for spots on the team, but we will also see players fighting it out for time on the power play and the penalty kill,” Heck said.
“Everyone’s on a clean slate here and it’s up to them to come in, work hard and show the coaching staff what they have to offer.”
The North Stars will start their pre-season schedule Sunday on the road against the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiacs, with a rematch set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
That will mark the start of a busy seven games in eight-day stretch for the team’s pre-season.
On Tuesday night, the North Stars will play the Humboldt Broncos at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre, with a rematch in Humboldt a night later.
They will then take on the Kindersley Klippers Friday, Sept. 8 in another 7:30 p.m. game in North Battleford before traveling south for another meeting Saturday.
The final tune-up game will take place in Saskatoon on Sunday, Sept. 10 in Saskatoon, as the North Stars and Yorkton Terriers take to the ice at Rutherford Arena.
“We don’t want to burn our guys out so you’ll see us keep a few more guys than normal as a result,” Heck said.
“With that said, we don’t want to have guys that we won’t have a place for be here until the end of camp, so we will be in contact with other teams to try and find a spot for them.”
The North Stars will begin their quest for a second straight SJHL title on the road against the Klippers on Friday, Sept. 15.
