The Moose Jaw Warriors will be taking a good look at their distant future when their 2023 training camp hits the ice on Thursday morning.
A total of 29 players born in 2008 will take their first strides in Western Hockey League action, with the large group of 15-year-olds looking to make an impression when they face off against their contemporaries through the first two days of camp.
Camp in general will be a young one, with only four 19-year-olds and four overagers hitting the ice once main camp begins on Saturday. The team will have 13 16-year-olds and 16 players in their NHL Draft year to go along with nine 18-year-olds.
That includes a host of luminaries who will be looking to get in some competitive hockey before heading to NHL training camps -- team captain Denton Mateychuk (Columbus), forward Jagger Firkus (Seattle), forward Brayden Yager (Pittsburgh) and forward Atley Calvert (Pittsburgh) will all be on the ice once main camp starts Saturday morning.
Overager forward Martin Rysavy remains unsigned by the Columbus Blue Jackets and is heading straight from his home in Czechia to their camp, while defenceman Max Wanner is going to Edmonton Oilers camp as a signed overager and is unlikely to return.
A total of 44 forwards will take skate alongside 23 defencemen and eight goaltenders.
Moose Jaw could become a haven for players from Saskatchewan in the near future, with 25 players from the Warriors’ home province in camp. Alberta is second with 23, while 17 will represent Manitoba and six from B.C.
Both of the Warriors’ U.S. Priority Draft picks from 2023 -- Zachary Schmidt of Highlands Ranch, Col. and Trevor Hill from San Antonio, Tex. -- will take the ice, as will 2023 Import Draft selections Patrik Kral of Czechia and Andrej Tomasec from Slovakia.
The Moose Jaw Minor Hockey Association will be well represented with five players, led by 40-goal scorer and assistant captain Calvert. Carson Deichert -- the Warriors’ third-round selection in the 2023 Prospect Draft -- will be joined by three Moose Jaw U15 AA Warriors teammates in defenceman Colton Flanagan and Tyson Ross, along with goaltender Jayce Finiak.
Training camp begins at 9 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, followed by the Black and White Intrasquad game at 12 p.m. Sunday.
