After an uncertain off-season due to the global pandemic, the SJHL hits the ice Thursday with its first pre-season contest.
The La Ronge Ice Wolves will make the trek to Flin Flon to battle the Bombers in the first of four meetings between the two clubs during the exhibition schedule.
“We’ll try and throw a mixture of veterans and rookies in there, let’s see what everyone’s got,” said Ice Wolves Head Coach and GM Kevin Kaminski.
“Everyone is still fighting for a job here. There’s still a lot of kids that are coming available from other leagues, so if you want to be an Ice Wolf, you got to keep proving day in and day out that you’re committed to what we’re trying to sell here.”
The players on the Ice Wolves are looking forward to getting back on the ice to play a real game.
“I think we’re going to pick up right where we left off last year,” said Holden Knights, a 19-year-old forward with the Ice Wolves. “We have some unfinished business and you’re going to see that on Thursday.”
Spencer Kennedy is a 20-year-old forward with the Ice Wolves, he says he’s expecting the exhibition games this year to feel almost like regular season contests.
“Teams are limited to the amount of guys they have on the team, so everyone is competing for a spot,” said Kennedy. “The guys who do get scratched, there’s going to be few of them. It’s going to be like a game situation, so it’s going to be good to see how guys fit into the lineup.”
Puck drop on Thursday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time. The Ice Wolves close out their weekend at home Saturday versus the Bombers.
The Ice Wolves say tickets for home exhibition contests will only be available to billet families and player families.
MBC Radio will not be broadcasting any SJHL pre-season games, but you can follow Braden Malsbury on Twitter for updates.
(PHOTO: Holden Knights (left) battles with a Flin Flon player last year. Photo courtesy of Kelly Kocur Jacobson.)