The Sobeys South Shore Wild Junior C hockey team will be on home ice for its first tournament Sept. 14, 15 and 16.
Players trying out went to the first training camp Saturday, Aug. 25. The second training session is set for Sept. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
“We probably won’t have our roster set until after that tournament,” said Jason Norman, the team’s general manager. “We’ll still be looking at people in that tournament.”
Six of nine teams will play in the tournament, and as of publication, four teams were registered: the Barrington Ice Dogs, Chester Clippers, Spryfield Silver and Black Attack, and the Wild.
Eleven players from last year’s team attended the first training-camp session.
Last year’s team had only two local players, says Norman. This year, there are about four from Queens County trying out.
“We’re going to go with about 19 skaters and two goalies,” says Norman.
At the first training session, there were 17 skaters and six goaltenders, and Norman says he was pleased with the turnout.
Nick Whynot will be the head coach again this year. According to Norman, Whynot was also happy with the number of people at tryout.
In addition to players, there were also some spectators in the stands.
Norman says the plan is to have a competitive team and to improve upon last year’s results. The Wild won 11 games and its first playoff game in history during 2011-2012 season.
“So this year we obviously want to do better than that,” he says.
Last year, says Norman, a lot of effort was put into scouting, and the organization was good – players were in the right places.
A weekend pass for the tournament is $25. Individual games are $5 for adults, and $3 for students and children.
Norman says he is looking for volunteers to help with a variety of jobs at the tournament.
He is also looking for a team trainer. The trainer helps if a player gets hurt. That person should have first aid and CPR training and has to be able to skate because she or he will have to go on the ice if necessary.
For more information about the Sobeys South Shore Wild, contact Jason Norman at 356-2749.
