The site of dozens of hopefuls skating around the Elgar Petersen Arena could mean only one thing - training camp is upon us.
The Humboldt Broncos held their annual fall camp Sept. 6-8 at their home arena. With only a handful of returning players from last year's team there were plenty of opportunities for new players to impress.
On the afternoon of Sept. 6 the stands were sparsely filled with interested onlookers - family, friends and fans eager for the start of another season. A board just inside the entrance to the arena listed the names of every player that had come to try out. There were dozens, ranging from sure things to untested long shots.
Out on the ice the hopefuls were divided into several teams and scrimmaged against one another after a morning of drills. Coach and general manager Dean Brockman and the rest of the Broncos' brain trust watched from above, trying to put together the best team possible for this season.
Whether it was shooting, passing or fighting, players eager to stand out tried to show off their best skills. It made for sloppy hockey at times, but the effort of the players never seemed to wane.
As one scrimmage ended and the next one began, players streamed out onto the ice in their pads. It was at those moments that the incredible range of physical maturity could be seen; while some of the players' chest hair bristled from under their pads, others looked like they were at least two years away from body hair of any kind.
Judging a 16-year-old going up against a 20-year-old is a tall order. One is a boy, the other more or less a man. For Brockman and other decision makers, the question is whether to rely on the potential of younger players or the sure, steady play of more veteran types.
If there was any position Brockman was watching closely, it might have been the goaltenders. The Broncos will need to replace Matt Hyrnkiw, last year's Goalie of the Year in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). Hyrnkiw will be playing this season with the University of North Dakota. That's one of the inevitable problems that come with being a developmental league; you develop your players and then, once they've reached their potential, they move on to the next level. It can be difficult for management but exciting for fans, as almost every year brings lots of new faces and possible outcomes.
The initial training camp roster of more than 50 players will be cut down to a manageable number as the team transitions into the exhibition schedule. During the regular season the active roster will consist of 20 players, with another handful available to be called up in case of injury, trade or other circumstances.
Training camp wrapped up with the traditional Green & Gold Game, which ended in a 4-2 win for the gold team. The Broncos opened their exhibition schedule yesterday against the Melfort Mustangs and play tonight in Melville at 7:30 p.m. The regular season slate opens on Sept. 21 in Humboldt as the Broncos will take on the Notre Dame Hounds at 7:30 p.m.
That's less than two weeks away, but lots of work still needs to be done.
