The word ‘compete’ is a favourite of Dave Hunchak.
When the Moose Jaw Warriors open training camp today the competition for places will be more heated than in any of Hunchak’s previous three as head coach.
“The one thing we’ve tried to create here over the last three years is a standard of compete,” said Hunchak. “That starts right out of camp. We talk a lot as a staff about compete and work ethic and all that stuff, but it really is the foundation of your organization.”
With 20 veteran Western Hockey League players in camp and more than a dozen rookies with a real shot at making the club, the Warriors feel they have a very strong foundation — and a lot of tough decisions to be ahead.
Hunchak credited director of scouting and player development Rob MacLachlan and his scouting staff for creating such a deep pool of talent to wade through.
“When you’ve had tremendous drafts — Rob and his staff have done a great job — it just elevates your group,” said Hunchak. “If you can elevate your group right from the start of camp you’re that much farther ahead when you get to pre-season and the regular season.”
The Warriors will open camp with a pair of scrimmages tonight at the Civic Centre at 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. where the veterans and the rookies will be divided. They will mesh the teams and then scrimmage four times Friday and Saturday before the Brodziak Cup Black and White intrasquad game is played Sunday at 7 p.m.
“We expect the camp to be very competitive,” said Alan Millar, the Warriors new director of hockey operations. “We expect some of the young guys to come in and push certain players for spots. That’s why everybody is going to have to be ready to go here on Thursday morning.”
For more please see Thursday's Times-Herald.
