The TS&M bantam AA Bruins got a good look at some of the players looking to make their team for the following season on the weekend.
The Bruins camp took place on the weekend at Affinity Place and a few decisions will have to be made on the team before they get down to their roster for the upcoming Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League season
“It would have been nice to see what the kids are made of, but the veterans really showed what they’re made of,” said Bruins head coach Blaine Chrest. “The young ones that came in did really well and we’ve got some decisions to make.”
The gold team won the scrimmage 11-2 Sunday.
The Bruins will carry a few extra players into a tournament next weekend at Melville.
“We won’t be down to our team until at least another week,” Chrest said.
They anticipate 10-11 forwards, six defence and two goaltenders once they finalize their roster.
Chrest noted the veterans who came in and improved over the summer and noted Carson Birnie, who will be a bantam rookie this year, as a standout in the camp.
Chrest steps into the shoes of Tom Copeland, who coached the team for several years and he’s hoping to put his own stamp on the Bruins.
“Tom put a lot of work in with these kids last year, especially at the end of the season,” said Chrest. “There was a lot of skill development and it shows. We’re going to be able to throw three lines at teams and you won’t be able to tell much difference between the three lines. We don’t really have a number one line that you can defence against. We’re really looking forward to that.”
Chrest said the leadership group will be figured out after the Melville tournament and the pair of preseason games they have.
“We’ve got a core group of eight or nine kids coming back,” Chrest said. “Any one of them could be our leader. You could hear them out on the ice talking (Sunday)…
It’s pretty good for this age group.”
The Bruins open their season Oct. 5 against Weyburn at Affinity Place.
