With a new head coach, new off-season acquisitions and new rookies who could make an impact, the Estevan Bruins will start fresh on Friday as they open their training camp.
The 65 or so players we see this weekend will be a collection of returnees looking to improve on last season, signed prospects making an argument they belong on the team, and non-listed players coming in to try to earn a spot.
The biggest off-season pickup was goaltender Matt Gibney, who was brought in from the AJHL's Camrose Kodiaks.
Gibney, along with incoming rookie Brett Lewchuk, represents a changing of the guard between the pipes for the Bruins, and fans can see him for the first time this weekend.
Steven Glass was supposed to be the guy last year and this year after a strong rookie campaign in 2011-12, but that was before a knee injury during his rookie year lingered into last season and wiped out pretty much the entire year for him.
Glass was traded to the AJHL's Drumheller Dragons last month.
Gibney, 20, is coming off a couple of strong years with the Kodiaks. Last year, he went 19-9-4 with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in 39 appearances. In 2011-12, the Regina native started 25 games and posted a record of 16-6-3, along with a 2.49 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
Lewchuk was impressive in his one start last year and is considered the Bruins' goalie of the future.
On the blue line, the team is without a No. 1 defenceman following the trade of Tyler Kauk to Flin Flon. Their top four group, as it stands now, includes Brett Blatz, Leighton McLachlan, David Robertson and Zach Douglas. One of the biggest decisions to be made coming out of camp will be how to fill the minutes vacated by Kauk.
There are a couple of spots up for grabs at the lower end of the depth chart, so there should be a good battle there too.
Up front, it appears the Bruins will have a deep, if not explosive, cast of offensive forwards. The additions of Austin Daae and Ben Johnstone, along with the signing of Lynnden Pastachak, Keegan Allison and Chris Thorimbert, should go a long way toward bolstering the attack.
Pastachak was re-assigned by Red Deer on Thursday and can probably be penciled in on the second line.
Hudson Morrison and Darcy DeRoose were two of the biggest bright spots for the team last year, and they will be asked to take a step forward and play key roles in the top six.
It all starts Friday.
Contact Josh Lewis at 306-634-2654 or [email protected]. Syria is going to be so surprised!
