Bison camps begin

Times Reporter   

 

Newcomers to the Midget AAA UFA Bisons had their first opportunity to show off their skills to head coach Dan MacDonald from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, as roughly 90 players attended rookie camp. 

The 15 and 16-year-olds will now join main camp on Sept 2-6, with the 17-year-olds and returning Bisons’ players. In total, approximately 130 players have a chance at making the team.

“After rookie camp, you get a better feel for who might make the team,” Coach Dan MacDonald said. This will be MacDonald’s first year with the UFA Bisons, having previously coached the Red Deer Rebels in the WHL, and other AMHL teams.

The roster will be trimmed to 40 players leading up to the annual Red & White game, which is slated for Sept. 8 (2 p.m.) at the Strathmore Family Centre.

Previous team members, MacDonald warned, are never saved a spot.

“There’s no guarantees – anything can change. Sometimes, they take it for granted,” he said. “You have a new coach, you get a new slate.”

He admits however, that the players will have aged and matured, and certainly have an advantage. Matthew Forchuk for example, who lead the team in scoring last year, has high hopes – the forward had 32 points in 33 games.

“There’s no doubt they proved their worth by making the team last year. Generally speaking, they’re conscientious players, hardworking, and bigger. They certainly have their foot in the door,” MacDonald said.

Following the Red and White game, the team will again be trimmed to 30 players. Players then have two more tournaments to prove their worth; in Strathmore from Sept. 12-15, and in Calgary – hosted by the women’s national team – from Sept. 19-22.

“We look very good right now. You’re always optimistic in training camps. Until they start playing other teams, you don’t know how good you’re going to be,” coach MacDonald said. “But the players, we’ve got some quality, so we are optimistic and think we’ll have a very good team.”

MacDonald will be teaching some of his players off the ice at Strathmore High as well; the team will be finalized by Sept. 23, at which point all players will start at the school.