The Airdrie Thunder’s intense four-day tryout camp wrapped up with its annual Red and White Game on Labour Day.
The Junior B hockey club hopefuls were split into two teams at the Ron Ebbesen Arena, Sept. 6, with Team Red prevailing 7-4 over Team White in a game filled with big hits, nice saves and great goals.
New Thunder head coach Darryl Einarson said he was impressed with the level at which the players were competing, even though some of them have only been on skates for a few weeks this season.
“They’re probably a little ahead of schedule of where I thought they would be,” he said. “There was some tremendous intensity. These guys want to make this hockey club and that was very evident today. I was very pleased with the effort and there’s a lot of talent at the camp here.”
Nearly 40 players were divided into two teams for the intrasquad game. They were tied 1-1 at the first intermission, before Matt Flette tucked away a beautiful backhand to put Team Red up 2-1, four minutes into the second.
Red then carried a 3-1 lead into the third, before the teams exchanged early goals. Team White defenceman Mitch Duncan scored on pinch-in from the point with 12:45 left to make it a one-goal game at 4-3.
But Team Red scored twice late to secure the victory. All six goalies who saw action made big saves during the game, which Einarson was happy with.
“In particular, I thought (Logan) Marlow made some really good saves at the start,” he said. “Zac Searby hasn’t been scored on at camp yet, I think. So, it’s a competition there for sure. We’re looking pretty strong between the pipes.”
The Thunder coach also wants the team to have a significant physical presence and said he enjoyed the big hits that were on display during the game.
“We talked before the game about what kind of system we wanted and the guys played that way. There were a lot of big hits. Guys want to make this team and they know they have to be physical and we’ll be stressing that in the exhibition games,” he said.
“We’ll evaluate what we have and pick the best team possible. There’s lots of decisions.”
The Thunder will host the Strathmore Wheatland Kings in an exhibition game Sept. 10 at the Ron Ebbesen Arena. Game time is 8 p.m. They will then travel to Strathmore for a rematch the following evening.
