Several top players from last year's second-place Estevan Apex Bruins midget AA club are gone and the team hopes a new group of players can step up and carry the load.
The Apex Bruins kick off the season on Saturday when they host the Notre Dame Argos at Spectra Place. Game time is 8:15 p.m. They also host the Melville Millionaires on Sunday at 7:15 p.m.
Forward Dylan Herzberg and defencemen Travis Holma and Garrett Earl are back as 17-year-olds.
They are joined by second-year returnees Dylan Lamontagne, Jason Hengen, Josh Ferris and Branden Lequyer, all defencemen.
The Bruins have also added a pair of third-year forwards from Midale, Brad Tominski and Kalum Bieber.
There are seven rookies on the roster.
New head coach Tim Lequyer said he's aiming for a regular season similar to last year.
"Optimistically, we're hoping for a top five finish in the league. It's going to be a little tough to tell," he said.
The strength of this year's squad will likely be the back end, where there are six returning players.
"Our defence was fairly sound last year, considering we had lots of young guys. I think we've got pretty decent speed and a pretty good work ethic, so expect to see some low-scoring games this year," said Lequyer, who has coached at all levels of minor hockey and in the Big Six Hockey League.
In goal, a pair of new faces are battling for the starter's job in Levi Eitner and Cody Murray.
"They were tested and they looked pretty sharp (in camp)," said Lequyer. "We'll give them both a chance at the start of the year and go with who's hot."
