The Dauphin Kings are getting set to embark on another crusade to win the Turnbull Cup as the team opens training camp, Thursday.
This year’s format is a bit different than in past years.
Registration takes place Thursday morning, with on-ice sessions taking place over that afternoon and Friday, with the annual JoFo Cup intrasquad game going, Friday at 7 p.m.
The Kings will waste little time getting into their preseason schedule as they host the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Yorkton Terriers, Saturday at 7 p.m.
The two teams hook up again on Sunday in Yorkton at 4 p.m., Manitoba time.
Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said there are a number of players who will be attending Western Hockey League camps.
“The reason we opened up a little bit later is to let all those guys go. There’s no reason for them not to go to Western League camps now because of the (NCAA) eligibility rule,” he said, adding there are eight to 10 players in the WHL camps.
That said, there are currently 57 skaters and 10 goalies registered for the Kings camp.
The team’s veterans, Hedley said, will have to set the pace for camp, showing newcomers how things are done here.
Hedley will be looking to replace some top end talent as Gabriel Bugeaud is trying out with St. Cloud of the North American Hockey League, while Gavin Nemis, Havryil Simchuk and Matthew Thomas are all trying out for teams in the British Columbia Hockey League.
“It’s good for the program, because they’re getting an opportunity at another level. We’ll see what happens. If they happen to return, it’s good for us. If they don’t it’s a matter of replacing them with some younger guys or some older guys we’re bringing in,” he said.
“We’ve got three or four guys coming in from out east and a couple from out west.”
The landscape in hockey is changing, Hedley said. Teams will probably be younger, he said, and they will likely have more opportunity to move on.
“If they move on, you try to replace them with as good a player. We think we have some real good talent coming up. Our 2008 draft was really good and we have letters of intent for quite a few of them,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of filling those gaps. I don’t think it’s a rebuild. I think it’s just a reload and finding guys that we like, that have certain characteristics, to play the way we want. That work hard, that compete and have speed and are very good ambassadors in town. That’s what we do. We’re humble and we’re here to represent the crest and try to compete for a championship.”
Hedley is expecting a competitive camp, noting there are a few 2009-born players he wants to sign to letters of intent for next season.
“The good thing about our returning vets is there’s some quality leadership there with. There’s some work ethic there with (Rylan) Gage, (Sheldon) Shyiak, (Joshua) Schmidt, (Madden) Murray, (Ty) Pratte, (Brett) Magarrel, Aiden Murray,” he said.
“There’s real good character. Real good compete. The compete level, the hard work and attitude. So we’ve got a real good start and real good nucleus of leadership, for sure.”
After picking up some key wins for the Kings last season, Bryce Yaschyshyn likely has the inside track to the starters job in the crease.
Returning to the Kings is Austin Seibel, who played for the team two years ago and spent last season with the Powassan VooDoos of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Also in the mix will be prospect Piet Mireau and some American prospects.
“So there’s five or six quality goaltenders and we’ve got a couple of good younger kids that are going to be part of our organization sooner or later. So we’re looking forward to the compete level. It’s going to be very competitive,” Hedley said, adding he expects a couple of competitive games against Yorkton.
And, while this year’s camp is a little different from past years, Hedley is looking forward to see how things work out.
