Intense battle for roster spots
Good corp of veterans back for another season with Flyers
Posted By Don McLeod
Posted 5 months ago
Veteran Winkler Flyers defenceman Caleb Suderman in a familiar spot in front of the net during one of the games played at the Flyers training camp held last weekend.
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“We’ve kind of filled most of our spots. A young newcomer would have to be pretty special to stick.”
The Winkler Flyers hit the ice for training camp this past weekend to start their 2009-2010 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season.
There were quite a few returning veterans among the 75 players at the camp August 29 to 31.
“There was one no-show, and we added a few others (players),” said Flyers head coach and general manager Mark Thiessen. He added there weren’t too many spots available, so the competition was quite intense.
“We’ve kind of filled most of our spots. A young newcomer would have to be pretty special to stick,” noted Thiessen.
The numbers were cut to about 45 players going into the pre-season games that began with the Flyers entertaining the Portage Terriers Tuesday night. It was the traditional rookie encounter, which Thiessen said gave both clubs a look at their young players in a game situation. The Flyers came out on the short end of a 4-3 shootout loss in that game.
Back for more
Nick Lazorko, Jordan Peters, Michael Wielgosh, Troy Kliever and Caleb Suderman are among the Orange and Black’s returnees.
On Saturday, there were two practice sessions followed by four games followed by three more on Sunday. Then Thiessen, associate head coach Ernie Sutherland and new assistant coach Bob Agnew from Morden put their heads together to make some decisions on players.
Thiessen noted the addition of Agnew was a good move.
“It gives us another opinion on the bench to go over things right at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Thiessen said the Flyers officially parted company with Dayn Belfour earned before the camp started. Beflour has signed with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League.
Scott Hellyer was one of the eight goaltenders in camp. The Flyers’ No.2 netminder logged 802 minutes last year, posting a 3.52 GAA and compiling a record of 7-7-0-1. But Thiessen didn’t commit himself when asked who might have the line on being the starting goaltender.
In addition to the camp, the Flyers hockey school and conditioning camp attracted 83 players aged 8-19.
Ernie Sutherland ran the school with assistance from Tony Franklin and Bruce McCallum. Termed a basic grassroots school covering the ABCs of the game, there was also plenty of emphasis on the importance of skating in hockey.
Coming up
The Flyers are in Portage tonight for their second exhibition game, with the veterans slated to see action.
The Flyers then play a home and home series with the Steinbach Pistons (formerly the Beausejour Blades). They are in Steinbach on Tuesday and entertain the Pistons on Thursday.
The Flyers open the MJHL regular season on the road visiting the Winnipeg Saints next Saturday and then play in Steinbach Sept. 12. Their first home game is Fri., Sept. 18 when they entertain the Saints.
