By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Yarmouth Mariners fans awaiting the upcoming season of junior A hockey can get a glimpse, and perhaps a taste, of what’s in store when the Mariners’ training camp opens on Thursday.
Mariners coach and general manager Laurie Barron recently told the Yarmouth Vanguard that between 40 and 46 players are expected at training camp.
But how many and who shows up is dependent on how some of the players do at the major junior camps that were happening before the Aug. 26 start-up of the Mariners camp.
“I think we’ve got 12 or 14 kids going to major junior camp,” said Barron. “We’re happy for them and we hope that they have good camps, but I guess in the back of your mind you’re a little selfish and you’re hoping at the end of the day they end up wearing your sweater.”
One of these players would be Kyle Campbell, who was the Mariners’ first round draft pick but was also a fifth rounder to the Quebec Remparts.
“We hope that he has a good major camp and wish him the best of luck, but we’d certainly love to have him in our uniform,” Barron said. “I think he’d be huge for us this year.”
There will be many familiar names back at training camp. The Mariners had 21 eligible players at the end of the last season, although they’ve made quite a few deals during the off season. Barron said they’ve probably got around 14 players coming to camp that played with the team last season.
He said there are also some local hockey players from the region who will be trying to make the roster.
Asked if it is difficult for players to keep their nerves in check during training camp and the exhibition games, considering what’s at stake, Barron said it can be, but he offers this advice to players.
“I always tell them to make sure they’re not spectators. Sometimes in your first camp you tend to stand around and be more of a spectator than a player and I think sometimes the younger guys, they have it built up in their head that it’s going to be their first junior camp, the first time with no face mask on,” he said.
“But I tell them bring what got you here, don’t try to do anything different. If you’re a small skilled forward, than be that. If you’re a big rugged defenceman, be that. Don’t try and be anything that you’re not.”
Barron said they’ll have likely cut the camp down to 26 or 27 players before heading into the exhibition games.
The Mariners will host the Bridgewater Lumberjacks for an exhibition game on Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 3 the Mariners travel to Bridgewater for an exhibition match.
On Sunday, Sept. 5, the Mariners and the Truro Bearcats will meet up in Kentville for a 7 p.m. exhibition game. Barron said he expects that by this game the camp will again be cut down to what he calls a more manageable number.
At the end of the training camp process, the Mariners will ice two goalies, seven defencemen and 13 forwards.
Yarmouth’s first games of the season are home games on Sept. 10 and 11 when they host the Miramichi Timberwolves and the Metro Marauders. Game times are 7:30 p.m.
Yarmouth Mariners training camp schedule
Thursday, Aug. 26:
Registration 6-7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 27:
fitness testing 12-3 p.m.
Team Blue on ice 7-8 p.m.
Team Grey on ice 8-9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 28:
Team Blue on ice 9-10 a.m.
Team Grey on ice 10-11 a.m.
intersquad game 7-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 29:
intersquad game 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 30:
practice 2:30-4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 31:
Home exhibition game vs. Bridgewater at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 1 and Thursday, Sept 2:
practice 2:30-4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 3:
away exhibition game in Bridgewater vs. Bridgewater 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 5:
away exhibition game in Kentville vs. Truro 7 p.m.
Monday to Thursday, Sept 6-9:
practice 2:30-4 p.m.
off ice 4:30-6 p.m.
