The Estevan Bruins have spent the past two weeks getting ready for the 2020-21 SJHL season to start, even though they don’t have a starting date yet.
The club began an extended training camp on Sept. 9. The number of players at camp has fluctuated, but the club is currently at 27 players, with 17 forwards, nine defencemen and two goaltenders.
“Camp has been going really well,” said head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. “I’m really happy with the pace and the competitiveness. Our young guys are looking really good, and I’m really pleased with our vets coming back.”
Nine forwards and six defencemen from last year’s team are among those currently in camp. Several other players with junior A experience are with the team, and there are some talented rookies as well.
“It’s a fresh start for everyone,” said Tatarnic. “It’s new for them, and they’ve bought into our mentality about how important work ethic is, so it’s been nice.”
Defencemen Devan Harrison, Kade McMillen and Austin King-Cunningham, who are entering their final season of junior hockey, have all stood out, the coach said. Second-year defencemen Taylor Reich and Alex Von Sprecken, both local products, have also impressed.
The other returning defenceman, Dayton Deics, has also looked good.
The forward ranks have a nice blend of experienced and first-year players. Rookie forward Caelan Fitzpatrick, who still has a year of midget eligibility remaining, has had a terrific camp.
“We talked to him in the summer to see if he wanted to play here, and he wasn’t sure. He came and skated with us last week for a couple of days, and we made the offer to him again, and he accepted. As a 17-year-old, he’s going to be really good,” said Tatarnic.
Defenceman Owen Simmons, who is just 16, has also had a terrific camp.
“He’s more poised than I thought he would be at this level. Really patient. For a 16-year-old, he’s going to be garnering some attention here from the schools.”
As for the goaltenders, both are new this year in Eric Clark from B.C. and Emerik Demers out of Quebec.
Forwards Sam Gallant and Mason Beck, two prospects from Nova Scotia, have left the team and returned home. Beck was the top scorer in the Maritime midget AAA hockey league last season.
“It was a loss, but there’s enough talent here that it wasn’t a devastating blow,” said Tatarnic.
A date for the season to start has yet to be announced, even though other provinces have given junior A leagues the green light to prepare for the season to begin. If it’s going to be a while before camp starts, Tatarnic said they would likely take a break, but they would keep the players in town.
“We’re following all of the protocols that are in place. They take their temperature when they come and they … all have their own water bottles.”
It’s good for their mental state to be here, it’s good for the physical side of things and it’s good for them to be active, he said.
