Training Camp Preview

40 players have arrived in Kindersley and will hit the bus early Friday morning to Eston, to compete for a spot on the Klippers. I just had a chance to talk with Larry Wintoneak , head coach for the Klippers and he assured me that all the players mindsets are that they have to earn a spot to dawn the Klippers jersey. Camp is expected to be very competitive. Six rookies will press and push the veterans to round out the lineup and the returning vets are hungry due to the bad tastes in their mouths from last seasons playoffs result.

Larry explains that 23 spots are up for grabs , and it's refreshing to hear that the players are buying in to this mindset. Obviously we know alot of the key returning players are already being penciled into the lineup but there are some returning vets that will have to compete to make this squad.

These players are likely locks up front enless something mind blowing occurs like showing up, 40 pounds over weight.

Andrew Dommett, Johnny Calkins , Jordan Hoffman ,Braeden Adamyk, Taylor Duzan and Sanfred King are likely locks up front.

Braeden Johnson, would also be a lock but at this point it appears he will stick with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL for at least the time being.

That leaves 6 or 7 spots left for the likes of ,

Ryan Benn, Jess Mysiorek, Beau Taylor, Tanner Exner,Taylor Wasden, Brett Penner, Pearce Gourley, Justin Gerwing and Kiley Long and potentially forward/defensemen Riley Down ( we shall see where he is slotted in during training camp) along with a few other forwards competing to crack the squad.

On the back end I would say the only four locks are

Kurt Leedahl, John Sonntag, Lance Tabin and Sean Flanagan.

There is only ten defensemen being invited to camp at the moment.

The Kindersley Clarions Josh Lewis had reported earlier that Larry is sniffing around for a puck moving defenseman. I tryed digging in a bit deeper while talking to Larry this afternoon but he said their is nothing he can discuss at the moment, but I do believe that something may be in the works.

In between the pipes it appears that returning vet Scott Hellyer is currently penciled in as the Klippers starting net minder. Larry explained that he is a firm believer of building within and Scott has been working hard in the off season to be the number 1 option in net. You can expect Justin McDonald to work his butt off in hopes to be named the starter , but at this point it appears he will be the future number one net minder. I am really eager to see how both these net minders compete at camp.

At this point that's about as deep as my perspective on the Klippers team gets. I will know alot more as the camp gets going this weekend and I become more familiar with the team.

One thing I can confirm is Larry is fully expecting this team to win the Credit Union Cup.