The Parkland Rangers U18 hockey team had a competitive camp this past weekend, with 27 players hoping to make the cut.
Head coach Landon Russell was disappointed with the number of players in camp, while recognizing some players were still attending junior camps.
“There was some good pace. Preseason will start this week, so we’ll get a better look at the guys. As far as I’m concerned, it was pretty successful,” he said.
“There’s some talent out here. It’s going to be tough when it comes down to making the final roster. There will be some tough decisions.”
Russell plans to begin working on team structure and strategies this week as they prepare for the first preseason game, Wednesday, against the Yorkton Maulers in Yorkton.
The Maulers will be in Dauphin for a rematch, Saturday, at 7 p.m.
Once the games against Yorkton are done, Russell plans to ramp up preparation for the final few games of the preseason, which will take place in Souris at the Southwest Cougars annual fall tournament.
Parkland will face the host Cougars, Sept. 18, before hitting the ice against Yellowhead at 9 a.m., Sept. 19, and Interlake at 6 p.m., later that day.
Russell hopes to see the players compete hard throughout the preseason.
“The work ethic is the big thing. We want to be a fast, tough team and we want to be hard to play against every night. Whether we’re battling in the corners or battling net front, we just want to be competing all over the ice,” he said.
Parkland’s season opener goes, Sept. 26, against the Eastman Selects at 7:30 p.m. It will be the first of nine straight games on home ice to start the season.