Prospects and veterans returned to the ice at Elgar Petersen Arena in Humboldt for the Tisdale Trojans' 2019 training camp (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff).

By Aaron Schulze

Trojans Training Camp

Trojans hope to mix in veterans and prospects ahead of new season

Aug 19, 2019 | 12:22 PM

The Tisdale Trojans’ new regime has their first training camp under their belt.

Head coach Dennis Kubat and general manager Cole Simpson saw a mix of returning players from the 2019 Telus Cup Bronze Medalists team and prospects during the Aug. 17 to 18 weekend in Humboldt.

Simpson expected to have competitive scrimmages during camp with the mix of the Trojans’ old guards and young up and comers, but left Humboldt satisfied with what he saw.

“I think we’re all on the same page in terms of what we’re looking for in players and what we expect as a team coming up this year,” Simpson said. “Everything really went over smoothly. We’re happy with the talent and level of play that we got out of camp here and now we’re looking forward to moving into the exhibition season and having a successful year.”

Without dropping names, Simpson said a handful of players stood out in terms of being ready to assume available spots on the Trojans for the 2019-20 Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) season, and there will be spots available.

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At least eight players from the 2019 Telus Cup team won’t be back.

Both goaltenders: starter Tanner Martin and backup Bryson Garton have aged out.

On defence, team captain Luke Arndt has aged out and committed to play for the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in 2019-20.

Up front, five forwards – Connor Long, Liam Rutten, Dawson Schaff, Colby Vranai, and David Wiens – have reached the age limit.

Three players have also signed Western Hockey League (WHL) agreements, with the Trojans’ leading scorer in 2018-19 Cade Hayes (Moose Jaw), centre Jayden Wiens (Saskatoon), and defenceman Dylan Ashe (Lethbridge) all looking to make the jump to play major junior hockey.

In total, Simpson expects five players to attend junior hockey camps who will have a legitimate shot to make their respective WHL or SJHL teams.

“We’re certainly trying to prepare in the event that those guys make their junior teams, and if they do that we wish them all the best,” he said. “We want each player to do what’s best for them and if they’re ready to jump to the next level, then we wish them good luck at that. That being said, we think that there’s a pretty good chance we’ll have most of them back and that’s certainly going to help us with some of the young players we have coming in.

“We certainly hope we can have some of that experience to pass on what they experienced last year hosting the [Telus Cup Western Regionals], going to the [Telus Cup], and if we can get a few of them back it will pay in dividends for us in terms of them working with some of the young guys we have coming in.”

Some of the Trojans’ notable prospects include Tisdale native and second overall pick in the 2019 SJHL Bantam Draft Nicholas Andrusiak and 2019 WHL Bantam Draft picks forward Carter Briltz, forward Kylynn Olafsson, and defenceman Cole Tanchuk.

“As good as the talent is, we believe we’ve got a lot of good, quality character young men coming into our program,” he said. “We appreciate that just as much as their skill on the ice. We want to make sure they’re being good citizens and role models for all the other young hockey players we have in Tisdale as well.”

Despite the potential large roster overhaul, Simpson doesn’t want to lower the Trojans’ internal expectations of making it back to the Telus Cup national midget ice hockey championship this year, or years down the road.

However, he noted he believes it takes a team a full year of playing with one another to develop and learn how to win together.

“I think last year’s team was an example of that,” he said. “There were times earlier in the season where I honestly didn’t think they would have had a possibility of competing at that regional tournament and moving on, but as the year went on you saw they were improving every day, getting better and closer as a team, and by the end of the year they were at that peak. That’s what we expect out of this team.

“We expect there to be some rust, obstacles, and challenges, but if they can come with that mindset and get better every day as a team, then by the end of the day you’ll see us fighting for one of those top (playoff) spots.”

The Trojans are expected to begin their exhibition schedule on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Tisdale RECplex against the Prince Albert Mintos.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow