The Yorkton Terriers Hockey Club moved a step closer to the new hockey season with its annual fall camp over the weekend.
Head coach Trent Cassan says the weekend camp turned out very well. About 85 eager prospects turned out to demonstrate their hockey skills for the coaching staff, he says. "We had all the young kids all the way from 15 (years) all the way up to 20 all together on four teams," he reports. Each team got four games.
Cassan says he was impressed with the young players who came in and weren't intimidated by the older players. "They provided a lot of energy and showed confidence," he states.
The older, veterans returned in good shape and also played hard, he suggests.
The Terriers have a goal tender, five defensemen and seven forwards eligible to return, Cassan points out. They've all come back and know that they have to earn their spot on the team as well, he states.
Usually during the course of the season the Terriers will carry 14 forwards and seven or eight defensemen, Cassan notes. "So there still are quite a few openings for our team that will be determined through exhibition games and practices leading up to the regular season. So it's still pretty open as far as roster spots go, " he says.
In putting together the roster for the new season, Cassan says he is looking of a good mix of player skills. He needs players who can fit into the many different roles demanded of them. They have to be able to accept and carry out those roles, he states. They would include offensive players who can put up some numbers. "A lot of that we expect from our returning guys. They've all gained some pretty good experience over the last couple of years, especially in the playoffs," he notes. If the returning vets improve their game a bit, Cassan believes fans will see some success for the team.
There have been some major changes in the team office as well. Danny McKay has moved on career wise, which includes coaching the Junior B league Ochapawace Thunder.
The resulting vacancy was filled in mid-August by Casey O'Brian, a young, enthusiastic assistant who has worked well so far. O'Brian has a good hockey background, playing junior hockey, playing at the college level and playing professionally in Europe. "I think he'll be a good addition," Cassan declares.
The new assistant G.M., Gordon Pritchard, who is working for a local law firm wants to become involved in the behind-the-scenes operation of the team working with G.M. Don Chesney.
The same age as Cassan, Pritchard played against him in college for four years.
The Terrier camp wrapped up with a scrimmage between the Yorkton Terrier and Melville Mil-lionaire rookies Monday afternoon.
The rookie Terriers took a 3-1 first period lead into the second frame in a back and forth contest which saw the lead change quite a few times before the Terriers clinched the narrow 9-8 win.
