The most interesting battle at Moose Jaw Warriors training camp will feature six friendly foes.
Nearly a third of the retuning veterans form last year’s team are engaged in a six-way battle for the three overage spots on the team.
Starting goaltender Jeff Bosch, defenceman and assistant captain Chad Suer along with forwards Brendan Rowinski, Dylan Hood, Thomas Frazee and Spencer Edwards are all in their overage season.
“There are so many different factors that come into play right now,” said Warriors head coach Dave Hunchak. “It’s hard to tell what kind of timeline we’re on to make those kinds of decisions.”
The fact that all of the forwards play a slightly different role and the other two players play totally different positions doesn’t help untangle the situation. Also complicating matters is the fact that Rowinski is out until at least October after undergoing major knee surgery in the off-season. The Warriors will have 14 days to get back down to three 20-year-olds once Rowinski is healthy.
The four 20-year-old forwards were amongst the Warriors’ top six point producers last season. Rowinski scored 30 goals. Edwards added 19 goals while playing in a third-line checking role. Hood scored 24 goals and had 24 assists.
Their play last season earned Frazee (Dallas) and Edwards (San Jose) trips to NHL camps this fall.
“When I look at the (overage) situation there is the reality that we may have six back here at some point,” said Alan Millar, the Warriors director of hockey operations. “We do have a number of guys going to NHL camps — sometimes 20-year-olds go to NHL camps and earn themselves contracts. Some decisions may be made for us.”
If all six are back, it is highly likely some of the jettisoned overagers will be traded rather than merely released.
“In the event we do have six back here we think we have quality people, quality players,” said Millar. “We’re going to have to make some tough decisions and certainly make some moves leading up to the deadline in the middle of October.”
For more please see Friday’s Times-Herald.
