The Fort Frances Lakers and the Red Lake Miners of the SIJHL will be hosting a showcase for players across the region to show off their talents to Junior A teams from across the country.
Named the NWO Junior Hockey Showcase, the event hopes to bring junior-age hockey players to strut their stuff for potential junior teams.
The event runs from April 26-28, 2024 at the Memorial Sports Centre in Fort Frances. Last week they announced that BMI group, which is redeveloping the former Fort Frances Mill property, will be the title sponsor for the showcase.
Luke Judson is the general manager of the Fort Frances Lakers. He says the team decided to team up with the Miners to see if they could bring out more players by working together.
“Historically, what everyone has done is organize their own spring/summer (identification camps) throughout the league. It kind of makes it hard to get all the best talent to one place,” Judson said. “We’re trying to team up, both of us host an event and hopefully that helps get some more players out here from Canada-wide.”
Though many players on the Lakers this year are local or come from nearby places like Manitoba, and Minnesota or elsewhere in Ontario, this season the Lakers have had players from as far away as now-traded forward Josh Greene who hails from Pullman in the state of Washington on the west coast, to current defenseman Kyle Garland from Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador on the east coast.
Judson says these kinds of camps are important for teams looking to fill out their rosters.
“In any camp you look for players that can fit into your lineup for next season,” Judson said. “Last year there were quite a few players that attended our ID (identification) camp that ended up playing with us this year and are still on our team. Ultimately if we host a bigger event maybe we can draw in more talent. We already have some registrants from the US and some kids from out west, so I think it’s going to be a good event.”
Across the three days of the showcase, players in attendance will play in a minimum of five games with players who have played AAA level hockey, Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) or already have previous junior A, B or C level experience.
The cost to players is $300. That includes the minimum of five games played, two meals over the three days, as well as jerseys and socks. The showcase is offering transportation to and from any of the airports in range of Fort Frances either from Thunder Bay, Winnipeg or International Falls, MN. They are also hoping to have discounts on local hotels as well as for local restaurants and retailers.
In addition to the Lakers and the Red Lake Miners, according to the showcase’s Instagram account (@nwoshowcase) other teams that have confirmed their attendance to see players are the Sheridan Hawks from the US-based North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), out of Sheridan, Wyoming, also in attendance will be the Chilliwack Jets of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) in British Columbia, and the Neepawa Titans of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). The account says more teams are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Judson says having other teams at the showcase makes it easier for players to get scouted. Most teams only have about 25 roster spots and would have commitments to players who are already committed to playing for their teams.
“Just looking at our area, there’s a lot of players that deserve opportunities,” Judson said. “But the reality is there’s only up to 25 spots with the Lakers, but we’re bringing in Red Lake and they have 25 spots of their own and if there’s American teams or MJHL, PJHL teams, whoever shows up, I think it makes it worthwhile for a player to be a part of it versus trying to choose between individual team camps.”
Players interested in registering for the camp should contact showcasenwo@gmail.com
All of the game sessions will be open to the public.
