The lengthy listing of firsts continues for the Wasaga River Dragons, as they wrapped up their first ever prospects camp Sunday morning on the Wasaga Stars Area.
Eighteen forwards, 12 defencemen, and 6 goaltenders have been invited to compete on Wasaga Seashore’s new Junior-A group, because it counts right down to its inaugural season within the Better Metro Hockey League (GMHL) this fall.
“There may be a whole lot of challenges as a result of now we have to construct it from the bottom up,” mentioned Brandon Billie, the River Dragons normal supervisor. “It is a new problem for me and it is one thing I am enthusiastic about.”
Lots of the 16-to-21-year-olds in camp have been Wasaga Seashore locals competing for an opportunity to be a part of their new hometown group.
“It is fairly cool to have a brand new Junior-A group coming to city right here,” mentioned Ethan McCallum, a ahead prospect. “I am enthusiastic about it.”
McCallum and fellow Wasaga Seashore native Cole Rumbolt have been teammates this previous season with the Penetang Kings in Ontario’s Provincial Junior Hockey League. Each 18-year-old forwards are hoping to make the soar to Junior-A, and are trying ahead to seeing the influence the River Dragons could have on the area people.
“We had a great quantity of followers for simply minor hockey,” mentioned Rumbolt. “If now we have an enormous enviornment like this and a Junior-A group, we should always get a whole lot of followers right here.”
Additionally in camp, Barrie’s Kaden Laverdiere, a Junior-A veteran who totaled 65 factors in 38 GMHL video games final 12 months.
“For the youthful guys it is an ideal alternative for them,” mentioned the 20-year-old centre. “It is good to be a frontrunner out right here.”
Nevertheless, Billie estimates that lower than half of the 36 gamers on this weekend’s prospects camp will make it to by means of coaching camp and on to the inaugural roster, which implies spots shall be troublesome to earn.”
“Simply work arduous, battle on pucks quick,” mentioned 16-year-old ahead prospect and Wasaga Seashore native Evan Hinks. “Get a number of photographs on web, rating hit, something!”
The River Dragons are nonetheless on the lookout for their first head coach in franchise historical past. They may announce that rent earlier than coaching camp begins in September.
The franchise can also be reaching out to the neighborhood for sponsorship and to seek out billet properties for gamers.
Those that want to assist out can discover extra data on the group web site.
