Power Dodge Estevan Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood has high hopes for the upcoming hockey season.
The Bruins will host their annual fall training camp from Thursday to Saturday at Affinity Place. About 45 players are expected to attend camp, which will have registration, meetings and practices on Thursday, scrimmages on Friday and the annual Black versus Gold intersquad game on Saturday.
“We had a small camp in mind, and by the time camp rolled around, we had three teams of guys that are vying for a spot on the team this year, or prospects for down the road,” said Lewgood.
Eleven players won’t be back from last year’s team. Seven of them – forwards Turner Ripplinger, Will Koop, Bryce Platt and Michael McChesney, and defencemen Jake Heerspink, Johnny Witzke and Aigne McGeady-Bruce – graduated following last season.
Goaltender Grant Boldt and forward TJ Irey have decided to play in the North American Hockey League. Forward Tristyn DeRoose was dealt to the B.C. Hockey League, and defenceman Bronson Adams was allowed to pursue other opportunities.
But they still have half of the team back from last year’s squad, which won the Viterra Division title for the third consecutive year.
“There’s a pretty good nucleus, especially on the back end. I think our D core is really strong. We have some veteran players who aren’t necessarily returning Bruins but are veteran players.”
They’ll also have a number of top prospects in camp, and some walk-on players looking to join the team.
Several of the hopefuls are local products, including defencemen Alex Von Sprecken and Kersey Reich, and forward Mason Strutt, all from Estevan. Cody Davis of Alameda will also be at camp.
Forwards Cal Caragatta from Regina, Griffin Asham-Moroz from Winnipeg and Troy Hamilton of Brandon, Man., are among the other players who have committed to be at the Bruin camp. They also have a contingent of American-born talent ready to battle for a spot.
“We have more guys that are junior A ready than I’ve ever had at a camp here in Estevan,” said Lewgood.
He’s looking forward to a competitive camp, and he expects there are some really good players that they will have a hard time retaining due to the talent they have.
