The scuttlebutt in Yukon’s hockey scene says there are talented free agents around. The Whitehorse Huskies wants them to lace-up for an identification camp this weekend.
The senior men’s AA hockey club is hosting an open training camp this coming weekend. Huskies management hopes to add to the team’s talent-rich nucleus with new skaters.
“We’ve got a core group we’re looking to build around,” said head coach Michael Tuton. “We’re looking for some supporting cast who can skate with the Huskies. There’ll definitely be some spots opened up.
“From what I’m hearing, there are some high-calibre hockey players hanging around town who weren’t with the Huskies last year. We’d love to have them out. That doesn’t mean guys from last year will be cut right away. It’s basically an identification camp … See what we’ve got to work with.
“Our core guys – I’ve spoken to pretty much all of them – they all want to return.”
Team management won’t use the pair of hour-15-minute ice-times to carve out a final roster, said Tuton. The camp is just the beginning of a process that will last weeks. The Huskies plan to have a roster set by the middle of October.
The team might begin its second run for the Coy Cup – B.C.’s AA championship trophy – early November with a road trip to Fort Nelson, though nothing is set in stone at this point, said Tuton.
“We have some regular ice-times and we’re in no rush to establish the roster right this weekend,” said Tuton. “Hopefully we can identify a bunch of new players, and some of the returning guys will be out.
From there, we’ll take as many as we can take on to the next one and we’ll go until we have our roster set.”
The Huskies club was resurrected as a AA team last season following a five-year hiatus. After going 8-0 to start the season, the Huskies lost two straight in a best-of-three playoff series to the Fort St. John
Flyers in March, ending Whitehorse’s Coy Cup run. The Flyers went on to win the Coy Cup, defeating the Terrace River Kings in the final.
This weekend’s camp will take place Saturday 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday 2:30 p.m. to 3:45p.m. at the Canada Games Centre. Registration will happen on-site before Saturday’s ice-time. Players must be at least 18 years old and have full equipment, including half-shield eye protection.
For more information, potential players can contact Tuton at deuces11@hotmail.com or (867) 334-3655.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com