2022 Melfort Mustangs Training Camp (Submitted photo/Mat Barrett, Melfort Mustangs)

By Ben Tompkins

Training Camp

Mustangs cut roster in half, now in midst of pre-season

Sep 7, 2022 | 5:55 PM

After a three-day training camp, which began last Friday morning and ended on Sunday night with their annual intrasquad game, the Melfort Mustangs have shaved down their roster from 80 players to 40.

With that, they will continue to trim it down until they are satisfied with their roster, heading into the 2022/23 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) regular season, which for Melfort, begins on September 16, in Flin Flon, against the Bombers.

When asked how successful their annual fall camp was, Director of Player Personnel Rick Oakes told northeastNOW “there was lots of good skill and hard work on display.”

“With that many guys, you get to see what you want to see, everybody has to compete hard for spots. Some young guys came in and played some valuable minutes and got to experience the camp, so it turned out pretty good.”

While the camp gives some of the returnees a chance to showcase what they have improved on, it also gives some younger guys the spotlight to prove they’re not too far from having what it takes to compete at a high level, at the next level.

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Oakes explained that’s why it’s so important to have that variety and diversity when it comes to players out on the ice.

“We get some of our young prospects that are going to play, whether it’s next year or two years down the road,” he said. “We like to get them the experience of fall camp and playing against the older guys and just challenging themselves and building their confidence.”

The difference in talent and experience is something that can be seen as pretty evident, however, according to Oakes, it’s a good thing.

When you have that gap it makes the level of competition much higher, as everyone looks to rise to the occasion.

“We got quite a few returning players and they push the pace of the camp and made everybody else rise to that level. We’re happy with everything overall.”

The Mustangs have three exhibition games remaining on their schedule now, after falling 4-1 to the visiting Nipawin Hawks on Monday night.

They now travel to Humboldt tonight, to face the Broncos, before looking for revenge, this Friday night, in Nipawin, and end things off back at the Palace, Saturday night, against Humboldt.

Oakes mentioned these pre-season games provide a key indicator as to what the team construct will look like on opening night.

“We can figure out where we’re at, it gives everybody a fair opportunity to showcase their skills and earn their spot on the team. Gets the progression moving forward into the regular season.”

Melfort still has over a week before they begin their true test and have their roster set, however, Oakes is confident in the direction they’re heading and how far they’ve already come.

“We’re confident moving into the regular season, got a couple of key areas that we think we need to address, but I think we’re where we expect it to be,” he added. “I’m looking forward to getting started with the regular season.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8