The Yorkton Harvest have just begun preparations for the upcoming hockey season.
Despite a rough ending to their season last year and knowing that they've lost their team captain from last year, and knowing that 2-3 of their leading scorers quite likely will not be around much this year if things go their way, Yorkton Harvest head coach Graham Garrett remains incredibly optimistic that this will be a good year for Yorkton's lone AAA Midget hockey club.
"The veteran guys have come back and look good. Probably will lose a few of them. Could lose seven guys to Junior but the depth on defence of rookies and returning guys is very good," states Garrett around the midway point of this past weekend's Yorkton Harvest tryout camp held at the Farrell Agencies Arena.
"Up front, some guys have really impressed."
Garrett won't have a whole lot to work with, or at least he doesn't suspect he'll have a lot to work with from last year's club, after having started the season 10-11 through the opening 11 games, all looked good for the Yorkton Harvest. Garrett said in the past that the team will feature a good balance of goal-scoring playmakers and defenceman who can play stay-at-home also creating offensive opportunities.However with a handful of skaters who will not be returning to Midget AAA, Garrett takes a more reasoned approach in deciding what kind of team he expects to put together.
"It'll take us through some exhibition games to find out," he suggests.
Among the losses Garrett knows he's got is former captain Riley Storzuk who had signed on with Flin Flon's Junior A SJHL squad.
Other departed players will likely include tough guy Andre Parker, scorer Tayler Thompson and rock-solid defender Damon Severson.
Despite the numbers, Garrett said he's not the least bit worried.
Player signings include Tanner LeSann, Kailum Gervais and Ryley Stefanyshyn.
In regards to the loss of Storzuk, Garrett suggests some guys "could fill that spot."
Storzuk brought some leadership and natural abilities around the net with an ability to provide some highlight-reel goals.
Garrett didn't want to name names at that point in the camp but did say the look of the 2010-11 Harvest is simply "going to depend on who's in uniform" even suggesting that the "team could look vastly different from last year."
Other players from that team that are expected to return are Levi Cable, who enjoyed some productivity skating alongside Storzuk and Thompson.
Garrett said he knows there is a high possibility that several players could either be added to Junior A rosters late in the summer, or in Yorkton's best-case scenario, sent down to Yorkton.
Garrett remains practical about the likelihood for success this year.
"Just keeping as many players here (as possible)."
In between the pipes, the Harvest will remain at least half-experienced. Goaltender Kale Thompson returns for a third time around. While Austin Vargo has graduated from the level.
In replacement, Garrett believes he may have found, at the very least, a solid backup to Thompson in local product Spencer Bomboir, a former Yorkton Bantam puckstopper.
"He's having a good camp," observes Garrett Saturday afternoon. "There's a couple younger guys here."
When choosing players to represent the Harvest, Garrett adds that the job is never easy, although it is becoming "routine."
The task of choosing who he thinks can play, and who isn't quite ready, never gets easy and someone who is usually more than able to play, may not necessarily get that opportunity.
"Somebody very capable is going to get left out."
In regards to the goaltending task, Garrett says he wants someone who is able to show confidence, can control rebounds, someone who can move the puck, and of course someone who can stop the puck.
The third-year Yorkton coach also told Yorkton This Week that the final camp of the selection camp, which represents for the players who make it that far, gives them one last chance to show they can play at this level, have been getting better each year.
"Yeah, our intrasquad games have been getting better and better."
The 2010-11 Yorkton Harvest preseason will include home dates against the Tisdale Trojans (Sept. 11) and Regina Pat Canadians (Sept. 19).
