As the new coach for the Battlefords Barons Bantam AA team, Brett Vestby wasn鈥檛 quite sure what to expect at this past weekend鈥檚 training camp at the Civic Centre.
Following three days of scrimmages, he can鈥檛 help but be excited about what lies ahead for the 2016-17 Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League campaign.
鈥淐oming into the weekend I was told that we would have a bit of a weaker team compared to last year with guys moving up and what not,鈥� Vestby said. 鈥淎fter seeing the guys play, I think we have the possibility to have a successful season and really surprise a lot of people in the league.鈥�
One of the biggest takeaways that Vestby had from the weekend, which concluded with an intra-squad scrimmage Sunday afternoon, is the overall speed that was on the ice.
鈥淲e have a really speed team and a number of strong skaters for a young team,鈥� Vestby said.
鈥淭he number of first-year guys that we have is great as well, because we鈥檒l have a chance to watch them grow and develop together. There鈥檚 so much upside here and all of the guys are hard-working players that can grind it out when they have to do so.鈥�
Vestby, who by day is the recreation director in Spiritwood, moved from Nanaimo, B.C. four months ago where he had coached for the North Island Silvertips of the British Columbia Major Midget League.
The position of Barons head coach became open when former bench boss Lee Ulmer moved up to be an assistant coach for the Battlefords Midget Stars.
鈥淲hen I moved here, one of the main focuses was to be involved as a coach with hockey as that鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been doing for a number of years now,鈥� Vestby said.
鈥淚 like to make sure that the guys are enjoying the game. When you look at the teams that win the Stanley Cup each year, it鈥檚 the ones that are having the most fun. I also like to have teams with a very strong work ethic. I wasn鈥檛 the most skilled player when I played, so I expect the same type of play out of my players.鈥�
Vestby will get to see how his players perform in game action on Sunday afternoon at the Civic Centre when the Barons are slated to take on a team from Saskatoon in a 2:30 p.m. exhibition game.
鈥淲e have all the way until Sept. 22 to set our rosters so that will be a good chance to see the guys who are still battling it out for a spot,鈥� Vestby said. 鈥淲e have a good idea already of some of the lines and defensive pairings for when the season begins.鈥�
The Barons finished in ninth place in the SBAAHL鈥檚 North Division standings last year and were knocked out the first round in a two-game sweep by the Saskatoon Frostbite.
The 2016-17 regular season will begin for the Barons on Oct. 1 when they will visit the Saskatoon Outlaws.
Their home opener will take place a day later when they host the West Central Wheat Kings.
