The Yorkton RawTec Maulers鈥� 2015/16 hockey season officially began this past weekend as head coach Graham Garrett and company held a three day camp for upwards of 40 prospective players at Yorkton鈥檚 Farrell Agencies Arena.
The camp kicked off with player registration followed by fitness tests and tours of both of Yorkton鈥檚 high schools (Yorkton Regional and Sacred Heart) before the players finally hit the ice for a series of practices and scrimmages Friday evening and Saturday.
Sunday saw the camp whittled down to just 40 players and divided into two teams of 20 Mauler hopefuls each for the annual Mauler intrasquad game, with each player attempting to impress the coaching staff; something they most certainly did, as coach Garrett mentioned to Yorkton This Week that no player played themselves off the team. 鈥淧layers make your decisions for you and right now there are no easy decisions,鈥� offered Garrett, continuing, 鈥淣obody has played themselves off and guys who we weren鈥檛 looking at too hard have played themselves up to a level where they are getting that chance.鈥�
But while the players have made it increasingly difficult for Garrett to pick his roster, he also feels that difficult decisions and competitive camps from veterans and rookies alike make for both a very promising season as well as a hopeful future. 鈥淥ur veteran guys showed a lot of leadership and played very well this weekend,鈥� mentioned the Mauler bench boss. 鈥淭hey showed their talent and their abilities and I thought they brought the younger guys along very well.
鈥淪ome of the younger guys are the future of this organization and they played hard and didn鈥檛 give an inch and should be proud of the way they played as well and because of that, they are making the decisions very tough for us.鈥�
Garrett then went on to say that, while not all 40 players can make the final cut (which will take place sometime throughout September), a strong camp might still provide them with the opportunity to play midget 鈥楢AA鈥� hockey this season should some of Yorkton鈥檚 veteran players move up to the junior ranks. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a lot of talented guys here, guys that have paid their dues and are ready to get to Junior so we wish them well and if they make it then great,鈥� said Garrett. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 make those decisions though, so if they do come back then we鈥檙e obviously happy to have them back.
鈥淏ut if they make it there (Junior) then we are still comfortable and confident that anyone else that we鈥檝e looked at will be able to step in and fill the void.鈥�
The Maulers continue their preseason with practices all throughout the rest of August before hitting the road on Wednesday, September 2 for an exhibition game in Dauphin, Manitoba.
The RawTec Maulers then host their nemesis the Regina Pat Canadians on Saturday, September 12 before traveling to Regina the following day (Sunday, September 13) for two more preseason games before wrapping up the exhibition season on Wednesday, September 16 with a home game against the Parkland Rangers (Dauphin).
