Kimberley Dynamiters preparing for Main Camp this weekend

Hockey season is just around the corner! The Kimberley Dynamiters are having their main camp this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This year head coach and general manager Derek Stuart says things will be a little different, having learned many lessons in his inagural season.

He says that this years camp will be smaller, because there are less roster spots open because of the number of returning veterans. There are about eight returning players, and four to five on the bubble of returning depending on tryouts with WHL or Junior A clubs.

With a smaller camp comes more intensity, "We are only going to have two teams [at camp]. With a condensed schedule in three days, and the teams seeing each other three times, the intensity and compete will be high."

Heading into camp, the Nitro's have six to seven returning defenders, which will be a massive strength for the team. However, there is more uncertainty with offense and goaltending then defence. As a result of players moving on there are some holes up front; James Farmer who was excellent on defence at the end of last season, and especially leading the power play, has been moved back to forward to help fill those gaps.

As for goaltending, this is new territory for Nitro's fans in recent memory, as the Nitro's don't have a returning goalie. Cody Campbell is listed on the teams roster, however he is trying out at the Junior A level. "You hope and want players make it to the next level," Stuart said "if they don't, we welcome them back."

It's not just the staff that are looking forward to camp, two returning players, Devon Langelaar and Farmer, are both looking forward to the upcoming camp and season.

"Looking at the roster and seeing how much potential we have," Langelaar says, "we could make a serious run for provincials." He then added, "It's my last year, I have to have high goals."

Farmer echoed the same enthusiasm, "We expect to win, it's not a given, you have to work for it. We have good guys coming back, so we definitely think we have a good opportunity."

While Stuart is excited about the season, he says the teams goals come later in the year, but added that the team wants to get to the conference finals again but have a different ending. But for now, his focus is on camp.

"We want a really intense and really competitive camp." Stuart said "We are going to make sure and hope our veterans realize that and set the tone. We want to build off the success of last season."

"We all want to get to the conference finals and have a different ending."

The camp is open to the public. It starts Friday at 6pm with practices until 9:15pm. On Saturday there will be two scrimmages, first game is at 1:30pm and the second is at 6:45pm. And then the camp concludes with a scrimmage on Sunday at 11am.

Farmer encouraged fans to come check out the camp: "We are going to give it all, we are going to be the best we can, hopefully make it fun for them to watch."