The Battlefords AAA Sharks played two exhibition games on the weekend against Lloydminster. Despite losing 7-1 and 4-1 there is definitely a positive vibe around the team enter the 2012-13 season.
After a summer filled with recruiting, Britt Penner says it has paid off. The Sharks had five defence and four lines dressed for their exhibition games, something they never had last season.
"Not only do we have a lot of players this year, but we are going to be competitive," said Penner.
Goaltending is expected to be the backbone of the Sharks this season, as both Jacy Akre and Rachel Mitchell will be back this season. Akre missed the exhibition games while Mitchell split time in the exhibition games and played extremely well.
With just one arena operating at this point in the Battlefords, the Sharks were not able to get ice to practice this week, but will do team building on the weekend and will play their final exhibition game Sept. 16 in Prince Albert.
The team building this season includes a sports psychologist from the University of Saskatchewan, painting the team's dressing room at the Battleford Arena and watching a Battlefords North Stars exhibition game on the weekend.
