TTT
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Wednesday marked the first day of the 2012-13 season for the Brampton Battalion as the team opened training camp at the Powerade Centre.
The Ontario Hockey League club expects 48 players to attend the camp, numbering 26 forwards, 16 defencemen and six goaltenders.
“I’m looking for the players to arrive in a lot better shape and prove they’re serious about the upcoming season,” said Stan Butler, director of hockey operations and head coach.
Camp opened at noon Wednesday with player meetings, medicals and fitness testing. On Thursday and Friday the Green and White teams are to practise before playing an intra-squad game, consisting of three 25-minute periods, beginning at 4 p.m. The camp ends Saturday after a third and final intra-squad game at 9 a.m.
After boasting 20 returnees at camp last season, just 15 of the players who saw action with the Battalion in 2011-12 are at camp. Amongst the returning players, six are defencemen, while eight forwards and goaltender Matej Machovsky are also coming back from the 2011-12 roster.
“We want our returning players to score well in fitness testing today” noted Butler. “I want them to show us they’ve worked hard to improve over the summer.”
The crew of returning defencemen is made up of Cameron Wind, Spencer Abraham, Zach Bell, Marcus McIvor, Dylan Blujus and Brenden Miller.
Up front the Troops welcome back Barclay Goodrow, Derek Froats, Brennan Feasey, Matt MacLeod, Jamie Lewis, Connor Jarvis and last season’s rookie duo of Brandon Robinson and Patrik Machac.
“We want the younger guys to come in and push the older guys for spots” said Butler. “It’s a healthy thing for hockey if changes are made.”
Amongst those players figuring to secure spots are forwards Blake Clarke and Michael Amadio. Clarke was the Battalion’s first round selection in the OHL Priority Selection in May, while Amadio was the club’s first second round selection since 2006. Nicholas Paul, a fifth round selection joins them as players signed heading into the season. The trio made an impact in May at the orientation camp, however Butler considers this a bigger test.
“The biggest change from Orientation camp is that now you are playing five-on-five hockey with referees” noted Butler. “That’s what we need to evaluate to get a better indication of where we are going.”
Butler said he expects a strong work-ethic with defensive responsibility out of this year’s team, but recognized offensive play as an opportunity for 2012-13.
“We’d like to add some more offense to the team through the evolution of some of our players from last year” Butler said. “Hopefully some of the new guys will come in and add offense as well.”
The Battalion opens its exhibition season at 2 p.m. Sunday against the host Kitchener Rangers. The Troops entertain the Rangers in a rematch at 2 p.m. Monday.
“We plan to keep somewhere between 24 and 26 players after we break camp,” said Butler.
The Battalion is to play five exhibition games before opening the regular season on home ice at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, against the Niagara IceDogs.
