The Moose Jaw Warriors will have plenty of spots to fill as training camp kicks into high gear this weekend at Mosaic Place.
With only one overage player, a single import and no veteran goaltending presence, the Warriors will be looking initially to get things done from within – but don't be surprised if general manager Alan Millar pulls a deal or two to shore things up once the local Western Hockey League squad has an idea of how things are shaping up at the conclusion of main camp.
First, the overage situation, which also includes the import situation.
Luke Ormsby (eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points) is the lone 20-year-old in camp after Vladislav Yeryomenko – acquired in the trade with Calgary for Jett Woo prior to the 2019 Bantam Draft – signed with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL earlier this month. The Tribe received a third-round pick as compensation for him signing a professional contract. With the graduation of forward Tristin Langan, defenceman Dalton Hamaliuk, goaltender Brodan Salmond, and the extreme unlikeliness of Montreal Canadiens prospect Josh Brook and Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Justin Almeida returning as 20s, the Warriors officially have two open overage spots as camp begins.
Yeryomenko's decision to go pro also dinged the Warriors in their import situation: where the team only weeks ago had three imports to work with – Yeryomenko, 2018 import pick Daniil Stepanov (8-11-19) and Swedish goaltender Jesper Wallstedt – they now only have Stepanov. That's due to Wallstedt, one of the top prospects for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and a standout for Sweden at the recent Hlinka Gretzky championship, deciding to stay home in Sweden for the coming season. As a result, instead of deciding who to keep, the Warriors will now decide whether or not and how to fill their open import slot.
Then there's the goaltending situation.
Adam Evanoff. 19, battled through a hip injury much of last season and had surgery in June to correct the ongoing issue once and for all. The team reported that his progress has been good, but he will need an additional 10-to-14 weeks of the regular season to recover, pegging his return to game action possibly before Christmas but likely in the New Year.
That leaves six goaltenders in camp, with prospects Jackson Berry, 17, and Brett Mirwald, 16, as the only two members of the team with prior Warriors training camp experience, let alone WHL game experience.
Despite the list of who's not coming to camp, the Tribe are plenty positive about who they do have hitting the ice.
Leading the forward corps will be 2019 NHL Draft first round pick Brayden Tracey (36-45-81), who is the defacto offensive leader on a squad laden with young up-and-coming talent, while Carson Denomie (8-9-17), Tate Popple (11-8-19), Kaeden Taphorn (4-8-12), Keenan Taphorn (15-11-26) and camp invite Hunor Torzsok (0-1-1, eight games Vancouver) make up the 19-year-old group.
Matthew Benson, 19, and 18-year-olds Drae Gardiner, Matthew Sanders and Alek Sukunda bring the most experience to the blueline, with highly touted NHL Draft prospect Daemon Hunt – fresh off his silver medal showing with Team Canada at the Hlinka Grezky – expected to also be a leader on the defensive corps.
A total of 15 players are returning from the 2018-19 squad, with the training camp roster including seven 19-year-olds, nine 18-year-olds, 14 17-year-olds, 24 16-year-olds and 33 15-year-olds.
Training camp will include a solid Moose Jaw connection, with five prospects from the Friendly City on the ice this weekend – Prairie Hockey Academy standouts Kirk Mullen and Atley Calvert alongside defenceman Carter Price and forwards Hunter Bowes and Chase Jocelyn from the Moose Jaw Bantam Warriors.
Training camp continues Friday with rookie camp scrimmages at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. followed by main camp games at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. Sunday and the Black White Intrasquad Game at 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the Black White Games is by donation, with proceeds going to the Canadian Mental Health Association in the memory of Ethan Williams.
