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Neepawa Natives update: trade in the works? |
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Tuesday, 13 July 2010 |
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 By: Lanny Stewart
myWestman.ca Neepawa Natives head coach and general manager Bryant Perrier has been a busy man these last few months drastically augmenting a Manitoba Junior Hockey League roster that looks quite a bit different than it did at the beginning of last season.
Approximately 35 players – many of which have been acquired via recruitment or trade these last few months – arrived in Neepawa on Friday to take part in the two-day event at the Yellowhead Centre.
The event began with a light skate on Saturday night followed by a fitness test Sunday morning.
“We wanted to go through and see the work that the players have put forth this off-season and to just see if everybody is following the program that was laid out for them at the end of March,” said Perrier.
“The guys are in shape. A lot of guys came in prepared. There's obviously a few guys that have some work to do but they have time to get it done; that's why we have this camp.”
Perrier had a one-on-one meeting with each player at the camp and came away pleased with how the players are responding to his off-season conditioning program.
“I think, overall, the preparation going in, I was quite impressed with the guys.”
A two-hour skate on Monday wrapped up the event.
All Natives veteran players take part in camp; Perrier raves about depth of roster
Perrier confirmed that all veterans who were with the team last season made their presences felt at the camp. This includes captain Ed Friesen, Mike Dopko and Jared Maetche on defence, along with forwards Blair Holmes, Calvin Cairns, Tyler Swerdyliak, Zach Mausolf and goaltender Ryan Bembridge.
With leading goal scorer from a year ago, Wes Pawluk graduating from the program, Perrier believes players like Jordon Hebert – an MJHL all-star forward that was acquired from the OCN Blizzard in May – should help off-set the loss of Pawluk.
That, combined with the acquisition of Colin Reaney, and the recruitment of players like Ryin Allison, formerly of Yorkton of the SJHL and Jordan Palusky from St. Cloud, Minnesota, should help with returning players like Tyler Swerdyliak, who finished third in team scoring a year ago and is expected to contribute more offensively this season.
“There'll be a lot less pressure on Tyler (Swerdyliak) because of our recruiting this off-season I believe,” said Perrier. “There's a lot more depth up front than last year.”
Perrier continued, “Tyler is not going to be put in a position in which he has to carry the load and he's the only guy. We definitely have other players that are going to step in and do a great job for us.”
Trade in the works?
Perrier hinted that he may not be finished in terms of tinkering with the roster before training camp gets underway in a little more than a months time.
“We're just in talks with different teams,” said Perrier. “We're always looking around and scanning the globe for help.”
“You're not doing your job if you're not looking at stuff like that.” |
