Call it an upcoming attraction.
For three days starting on Aug. 23, a group of 20 prospects were put through their paces in a try-out camp for the Barrhead Bombers Western States Hockey League (WSHL) season at the Agrena.
Bombers general manager and head coach Todd White said he was impressed by the prospects’ play in such a relatively short period.
He said it was the first time many of the players had been on the ice this summer and the first time they had ever played together as a group.
“Everything went as good as it could have for this part of the season,” he said but admitted he would have liked to see a few more faces at camp.
Part of the reason, White said is that several of the players will not be arriving until Sept. 6, three days before the main camp is slated to begin.
The camp will start in Barrhead from Sept. 9-12 but will move to Westlock for the remainder as the Agrena’s ice surface is transformed to a rodeo arena for the Wildrose Rodeo Finals.
As for how the roster is shaping up, White said they currently have about a handful of players under contract, including one from the tryout camp.
Until everything is finalized, including VISAs for those from outside Canada he is unable to release their names, with one exception. Over the Aug. 23-25 weekend, the Bombers signed 19-year old forward Austin Strathdee who played last season with Medicine Hat Cubs in the Heritage Junior Hockey League as well as the Morinville Titans in the Northern Alberta Junior ‘C’ Hockey League.
“We’re in pretty good shape, by the time our main camp starts, we will have 20 to 23 signed players,” he said, adding WSHL teams are allowed to carry 27 players, out of which 14 can be imports (not from North America).
White expects to carry three goaltenders, 15 forwards and eight defencemen.
The reason why WSHL teams need to carry more than the typical Alberta Junior Hockey League team is that they are not affiliated with Hockey Canada they cannot call up players from an affiliated Midget team.
As for how things off the ice are going, White said things are starting to take shape.
“We have a billet coordinator and have enough families to host 12 players, but we will need more,” he said, adding they are also still looking for a game-day coordinator(s). “That’s another big role. A person to help us make sure we have scoring and penalty box people, to making sure there are volunteers for security, ticket takers, apparel sales and the like.”
If you are interested in becoming a billet family the best way is through the club’s website and Facebook page.
