Head Coach and General Manager Derek Stuart said "it was good to get back on the ice," as the Kimberley Dynamiters held their annual training camp on August 26-28. "The work ethic, competition level, and intensity level was all high"
A total of 54 players showed up to show off their skill set to make the 26 player exhibition roster. There were seven KIJHL veterans at camp, four returning Nitro's and three played elsewhere last season. There are also seven Dynamiters at Junior A camps, and depending on their performance at those camps, may or may not return to the team for the Season Opener on September 9th.
The 26 remaining players will have two exhibition games, one this Wednesday at Creston versus the Thunder Cats and the other on Friday against the Golden Rockets in Cranbrook at Western Financial Place, to show that they want stay on the team. Final cuts are expected to be made as early as Saturday. A big uncontrollable factor about who will make the team all depends on the trickle down effect from the Junior A teams. This creates an uncertainty and is a waiting game for both the players and the coaching staff.
Stuart added that players who want to make the team "need to be players that can compete and make it hard for other teams to play against. They need to work as hard as they can, and show that they want to make the opening day roster."
An area of concern that Stuart noted heading into camp was the loss of point production this past off-season. "Offensive skill has been addressed. Scoring by committee at this point."
The 26 player exhibition roster is expected to be released later on Sunday or sometime on Monday.
Stuart wanted to thank the volunteers; "the coaching staff really appreciated all the volunteers that helped out behind the scenes, they helped the camp be a success."
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