Locals look to impress Oil Barons

Times Editor

 

Even though their championship campaign just ended, five members of the Wheatland Chiefs are already looking for a home for next season.

Goaltender Wilson Sproule, defenceman Zach Wittenburg and forwards Devon Westby, Rylan Muenchrath and Justin Fraser took part in the Fort McMurray Oil Barons Spring Prospect Camp April 8-10 at the Strathmore Family Centre.

Between 55-60 players from all over Southern Alberta attended the camp, which has been hosted in Strathmore for the past eight to 10 years.

However, this year’s camp definitely has a local flavour.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re in this area right now,” said Oil Barons head coach and general manager Gord Thibodeau. “Len Desmet (Chiefs assistant coach) and Doug Hergenhein, our head scout out of Calgary, have been very successful drawing players from here. They’re well coached and they are guys who have really progressed – so we try to identify them. That’s part of the reason for having the camp here – is to get those kids out and find the next stars of the Oil Barons.”

According to Thibodeau, the former Chiefs are skilled players, but it’s their winning pedigree that makes them intriguing to the Barons.

“You tend to recruit character players and guys that have won before,” said the coach. “They understand what it takes to win and there is no question that is part of what you are recruiting – not just good, skilled players, but the character of champions.”

The Oil Barons, who finished the AJHL season with a 43-16-1 record, are looking to reload for the future. That future starts with the prospects camp in Strathmore.

“This is just a good location for us,” said Oil Barons head coach and general manager Gord Thibodeau. “We’ve been very successful in getting Calgary and area kids – some kids from Chestermere and this area (in Strathmore). We’ve had real good success holding camps here. We’ve been fortunate to sign some really good players.

“We’re looking for players that might not play for us this year, but maybe over the course of the next two to three years.”

According to Thibodeau, the team will take about 20 players from this session to a summer camp held in Edmonton in July.  That is where these prospects will join the veteran players in an attempt to make the big squad. 

While most teams host their main camp later in the summer, the Oil Barons will start the process early, as they were asked by Hockey Canada to take part in an international event in Russia during August.

However, for now, the Chiefs were thrilled to have five players from their squad at the camp.

“(These) guys worked hard all year and were our top players, so it’s good to see,” said Chiefs coach Devon Olson. “They show up every night and they compete. That’s why they got picked to come here. 

“They know what it takes to win now … once you win a championship you always have in the back of your head that you want to win another one.”