Junior A Oil Barons scout in Strathmore

Posted on: J A McRae

Amy Gregson – Times Reporter

The 2009-2010 hockey season is over, but the Fort McMurray Oil Barons Junior A hockey team is already scouting for next year.

The team was in Strathmore April 10 and 11 looking at talent from across Alberta, including a number of local players.

“We haven’t been here since 2006,” said Doug Hergenhein, head scout and assistant general manager. “We really enjoy the Strathmore area. It’s been good to us.”

The Oil Barons have to scout outside of their area, said Hergenhein, because there aren’t enough kids locally to play, although they do have a number of locals on their team including captain Brad Stebner.

The team has had players on their team from across Alberta and also from Toronto and Colorado.

For their camp, the Oil Barons had approximately 60 kids come out from across Alberta, and Hergenhein said they invited players who they thought could be ready to play in the program in the upcoming two seasons.

Local players who were trying out included Justin Fraser, Kevan Mikkelsen, Brayden Zentner and Lucas Mertz, all who played on the Wheatland AA Chiefs this past year.

“Talent has been great. Justin Fraser has done very well. Kevan Mikkelsen has showed very well,” said Hergenhein. “Those two kids have really developed this year, so we feel there’s an opportunity for those kids.”

Hergenhein said it really doesn’t matter to them what level a player plays the previous year, whether it’s in AA or AAA.

“Just because you didn’t play AAA midget, doesn’t mean you’re not good hockey players,” said Hergenhein. “We have a couple kids in our line-up now, as do a lot of other junior teams, that played AA midgets and come right up into the program.”

Hergenhein said the Wheatland AA Chiefs did a really good job in developing their team and it showed throughout the weekend.

Throughout the weekend, players participated in dry-land drills, on-ice drills and played in game type situations against each other, including three-on-three games.

“That gives them an opportunity to showcase and see their skills,” said Hergenhein. “When it goes three-on-three you have a little more room out there.”
Hergenhein said the team will identify somewhere between 20 to 25 kids from the Strathmore camp and invite them to Edmonton for another camp in July.