There were 60 players from across Western Canada, three coaches, guest coaches and equipment and athletic trainers thrown together for four days and though it was a lot to take in, Kent Lewis says round one of prep for the World Junior A Challenge was a success.
The group assembled in Canmore, Alta. last week for evaluation camp and head coach Lewis is happy with how everything went.
“We have a really good staff with Dean Brockman from the Humboldt Broncos and Andrew Milne of the Canmore Eagles – I’m really looking forward to working with those guys,” said Lewis, who returned to his post with the Powell River Kings this week. “Our equipment trainer Jeff Woods from Flin Flon and our trainer Erin Berkowski from the Coquitlam Express – it’s a really good group.”
The on-ice talent impressed Lewis as well.
“Identifying the kids is number-one; there’s a lot of kids from our league but you’ve got kids from all the other leagues too. We set up practice for how we want to play and to see what kids excel in that environment.
“We made sure they knew what kind of team we want to be and they got the message really well,” Lewis continued.
The numbers will be smaller the next time the team gets together. There will be 35 players that report to Langley for a final camp at the end of October before the event which goes Nov. 7 to 13 at the Langley Events Centre. (Tickets to the event are HERE)
“We had one-on-ones with the kids obviously,” said Lewis. “We told the kids the vast majority of the group (in late October) will be from this camp but others, if they show well to start the year, will be there too.”
As far as a team identity, that will come in time but Lewis said some tried-and-true Canadian hockey values will be evident.
“If you look at any team Canada has put together, there’s a grit factor, a want factor and a pride factor but you gotta mix in a little bit of skill too.”
Lewis is confident his team will be able to show each of those characteristics come November.
