Lucas Punkari
The building process for the Fort Frances Lakers’ 2011/12 roster continues this weekend as last year’s SIJHL semi-finalists host a summer pre-camp at Bronco Arena over in International Falls.
“It’s really nice to have a pre-camp like this heading into the main camp this fall,” noted Lakers’ head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan.
“That way, we can go into the main camp with a really high intensity and the players will be fighting it out for the 25 positions available with the team,” he reasoned.
About 40-45 players are slated to take to the ice this Friday through Sunday, although Strachan still is getting calls from prospects looking to take part.
“We’re trying to fit them in and also make sure that we don’t have too many guys at one position . . . so we can also have a fair amount of ice time for everybody,” Strachan said.
“We have a fair mix of both local and out-of-town players,” he noted.
“And if possible, we might have a few returning veterans take part, as well, to fill in on defence for us as a few guys had to drop out due to some other commitments.”
Those coming from out of town include players from Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota, and elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario.
Skaters from farther flung locations will be trying out for the Lakers’ roster during the main training camp in late August.
“We try to keep this camp to the prospects that are in close proximity, and we also have the limitations with teams now having their protected lists to who we can and can’t bring in,” Strachan explained.
The camp gets underway Friday with registration at 7 p.m., with the first on-ice session scrimmage slated for an hour-and-a-half later.
Two more practices will take place Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., before the camp wraps up Sunday at 10 a.m.
“We’re going to split the players that are coming here into two teams and we will more than likely go right into the games,” Strachan said.
“I was contemplating maybe having just a practice session instead on Friday night, but I’m leaning with just going to straight to seeing how the players are in game situations.
“And it kind of shows what they have done during the off-season with how in shape they are,” he added.
Strachan also is hoping to bring the out-of-town players over to the Memorial Sports Centre during the course of the weekend so they can get a tour of the Ice For Kids Arena along with the Lakers’ locker-room and weight room facilities.
One of the players expected to be taking to the ice this weekend is Spicer, Mn. forward Payton Ruter, who signed with the Lakers two weeks ago.
“He might also have to play on defence if [we] keep having forwards who are wanting to come in,” Strachan noted.
“But he [Ruter] can play both sides of the ice, so that is not a bad situation for us.”
One of the big things Strachan will be keeping an eye on this weekend are the four goalies who will be battling it out between the pipes, especially given the situation with last year’s netminding tandem of Tyler Ampe and Jameson Shortreed still up in the air.
“Both Tyler and Jameson have opportunities in the USHL right now, and their camps are not going to be until August,” Strachan noted.
“It’s tough to evaluate goalies in such a short period of time, but there will probably be one of the four guys that will stand out and we could have a couple that are invited to main camp.”
With players graduating from last year’s squad at both ends of the ice, Strachan also will be interested to see how a few out-of-town players perform on both offence and defence.
“On defence, we’re looking for some guys that can move the puck, that are mobile, and can also add to our offence,” he explained.
“Clayton Ludlum is a bigger kid that can play both forward and on defence that we are looking forward to seeing here, and Jacob Malwitz is another big kid who has Minnesota junior hockey experience who we believe might have something that we can add to the team.
“Offensively, we are looking for a couple of guys that can fit in on the right side with Dan [Smith] and Tyler [Stevenson] both leaving, along with some energy guys who can play on the third and fourth lines along with the penalty kill,” Strachan continued.
“Chris Belhumeur is a Manitoba kid who has some good size and he led his team in scoring last year in the Midget ‘AAA’ league that he played, so we are really excited to have him come and see what he has to offer.
“Plus, we have Dan Chesser, who fought for a spot last year at camp coming back, and he’s a smaller guy who is pretty skilled and quick.”
To go along with the out-of-town talent, a number of local players also will be vying to earn an invite to the main camp, which starts on Thursday, Aug. 25.
“Jon Carlson is a guy who played in the Thunder Bay Kings’ organization last year, and he played a game for us later in the year and he didn’t look out of place at all,” Strachan said.
“Jordan Larson is a 16-year-old forward who has also been in the Kings’ system and is a Soo Greyhounds’ draft pick, and he has the ability to be a contribute for us right away.
“Davis Smith, who we released at the Jan. 10 deadline but kept as an affiliated player, is also back in the fold for us and will be fighting for a spot, and Colton Spicer, Brett McMahon, Robbie Rea, and Donovan Cousineau will also be there.
“They are all young guys with the skill and the talent to push for a spot on the team, and it would definitely be nice to have them with the team and help with their development, as well,” Strachan enthused.
Away from the rink, the Lakers held the first-annual Bobby Mainville Memorial golf tournament at Heron Landing on Saturday, which proved to be a great success with 124 golfers taking part.
“I don’t know the exact funds that we raised as of yet but everything went very well,” Strachan said.
“Everyone was pleased with how the tournament went, and it was a great and a special day for many of the people involved,” he added.
“And my thanks goes to everyone that helped make this happen.”
