The Nipawin Hawks training camp was closed to public spectators due to provincial health guidelines. (Tracy Cherny via Facebook/Nipawin Hawks)

By Aaron Schulze

Hawks Training Camp

Hawks skate for the first time since shutdown

Sep 24, 2020 | 3:49 PM

Training camp on Sept. 18 and 19 amidst a pandemic was different for the Nipawin Hawks.

The Hawks, like all Saskatchewan hockey clubs, were only able to have a maximum 30 participants – coaches and officials included – on the ice during a session, and 50 participants in a mini league or training camp due to guidelines set out by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Doug Johnson, Hawks head coach, said training camp was differently structured in 2020, compared to previous years where up to 37 players could be on the ice at the same time.

“You want to get your 10 forwards and five to six defencemen and then you can play five-on-five hockey,” Johnson said. “It’s what people know and it’s the structure of the game. You throw four-on-four out there and there’s not a lot of structure and the hockey sense is different. There was a lot more ice for players and it wasn’t as physical, which the game is going to be. At the end of the day, it’s still hockey and it was enjoyable.”

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The Hawks were set for a roster overhaul after the 2019-20 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season, where their playoff series against the Battlefords North Stars was shortened after four games.

Six forwards – Caden Benson, Jeremy Bisson, Riley Bruce, Carson Erhardt, Dawson McKenzie, and Jordan Simoneau – along with defenceman Bronson Adams and goaltender Dalton Dosch aged out of Junior A hockey. Although the Hawks lost two American players due to the ban of non-essential travel between the Canada and United States border.

Burke Simpson, a 19-year-old forward, elected to stay in the States and play for the Jamestown Rebels of the North American Hockey League.

It was revealed at the Hawks’ annual general meeting that 20-year-old Max Johnson – the Hawks’ leading scorer amongst defencemen – will not be brought back under the current border restrictions.

“Max would have been one of the top returning defencemen in the league as far as points,” Doug Johnson said. “You don’t replace that; hopefully, somebody steps up. Every team has lost players, I don’t know if every team has lost that high caliber player but we kind of had an idea beforehand that it might not occur. We’ll see what we can do and see how the guys progress.”

To the Hawks’ benefit, they have five defencemen from 2019-20 eligible to return: Cole Beamin, Evan Bortis, Mkyllan Couture, Jack Lenchyshyn, and Luke Penner. Prospects Eric Robbie and Liam Bell – both 17 – will also be in the hunt to earn spots.

In goal, the Hawks have last season’s starter Ross Hawryluk returning, along with 18-year-olds Chase Hamm and Nicholas Heinzle.

Forward development

Eight forwards from 2019-20 can return to the Hawks. Brodie Girod, Josh Lester, Michael Makarenko, and Jake Tremblay can return for their final seasons, while Davis Chorney, Andrew Schaab, Sawyer Senio, and Greyson Stewart can return for their second seasons.

The Hawks acquired two 20-year-old forwards over the offseason: Christian Albertson and Zach Falck.

Johnson said the Hawks’ top three lines “may be deeper than ever before.” There will be opportunities for sophomore forwards such as Chorney and Schaab to be featured in more prominent roles.

To round out the forward depth, the Hawks’ 18-year-old recruiting class – Carson Dobson, Jacob Dorohoy, Blake Duquette, Alex Johnson, Rylan Lefebvre, Maddux Nolski, and Brody Wilson – should compete for spots on the team.

The SJHL’s tentative start date is Oct. 16. Until then, or a potential later, Johnson said informing the players will help everyone stay focused ahead of puck drop.

“They know as much as we know right now,” he said. “They don’t know all the details, but they know things are looking promising.”

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow