Bantam tryouts to go the distance

It looks like the final cuts for the local Taggs ‘AA’ Bantam hockey team will go right down to the wire.
The team’s coaching staff held a three-day tryout sessions almost two weeks ago but admitted the roster choices made then–and ones still going to made–have been extremely tough.
So tough that head coach Dave Egan has arranged an exhibition game against Dryden here Oct. 6 with all 20 players ready to suit up.
“We’ve got three more roster decisions to make,” Egan said Monday night, noting the team should only have a maximum of 15 skaters and two goalies by now.
“We just want to give the boys some game experience and allow them the opportunity to perform in a game atmosphere,” he added. “It’s where you can truly evaluate a player.”
Egan, entering his 25th year of coaching with the Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association, said he’s never experienced such a tight battle for roster spots.
“These are difficult decisions,” he said. “But I will say it says a lot for minor hockey in Fort Frances to produce so many evenly-skilled players.
“With the group of boys we have, we have the makings of one of the better Bantam teams,” he stressed.
In the meantime, the team will hold six on-ice sessions before the exhibition match against Dryden. Game time should be announced shortly.
The final roster will kick off its schedule in late November with an invitational tournament here.
Pat Dittaro and Randy White have joined Egan as assistant coaches this season.