With the Heritage Junior Hockey League set to get underway next month, the Airdrie Thunder are planning to host its annual three-on-three conditioning tournament on Aug. 13 and 14.
The Junior B team will look to fill eight teams of approximately seven players (three forwards, two defencemen and a goalie) each for the event, now in its 10th season. Registration, which is $75, is open to ages 16-20, and the event will take place at the Ron Ebbesen Arena in Airdrie.
Frank McEvoy, the team’s president and general manager, said there is still room for players to sign up before the event.
“Hockey is here and it’s about time,” said McEvoy, who will enter his 32nd year of hockey in Airdrie this season. “Registration is always slow at this time of year, but this event is really great for overall conditioning.”
It is still uncertain who will be behind the bench for the Thunder this season, but the ideal scenario would be to have head coach Art Krusel lead the squad, depending on his health, with assistants Gareth Barley and Tim Sullivan.
The team could return up to 22 of its players from last year, but McEvoy said it’s more realistic that 15 or 16 of them would play, as others will move on to Junior A or other ventures. He’s also open to adding several Midget players because of the overall talent level in the area.
“I really like what I saw out of the Midget AA’s last year, at all three main positions, and I like the idea of giving local kids a chance,” McEvoy said. “I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen out of some of them and realistically, five or six of the guys could make this team.”
The importance of this type of tournament at this time of year is significant, McEvoy said, as it will help prepare players for a long season – with both conditioning and the mental aspect.
“For a lot of these guys, until they show up, we don’t know what they’re all about,” he said. “Some of these 16 and 17 year olds have the talent, but need to learn more about gamesmanship to play at this level. What we look for is their skating sense, how they read the play and the overall puck sense. It’s easy to teach them the rest of the game if they have those types of fundamentals down.”
