The boys are back in town.
The Yarmouth Junior A Mariners kick off training camp with practices at Mariners Centre today.
Head Coach and General Manager Laurie Barron says it will be competitive.
“We’ve got a great looking group for camp. There are 28-30 players competing for 22-23 spots on the roster,” says Barron.
He says there are several key returning players from the team that finished first place in their division last season.
“Guys like Kaleb Boudreau, Kieran Burke, Hunter Livingston, Michael McQuaid and Ben Roode, we have real solid defensemen that will battle for spots. Sam Gillis, Reilly Mayne, Kurtis Lang, Ryan Semple, Reid Vos, Ben Charles are all back up front. It will be competitive with players we’ve drafted and acquired through trades as well. Lucas Robinson looks to be joining the team as well after playing with the Halifax Mooseheads. We had his brother play for us last year.”
Intersquad games will be held this weekend in Arena 2, with room for 100 spectators.
Barron says the first cuts will be made after Sunday’s game.
“Some of the U18 players, those born in 2004 and 2005, will go back to their clubs. Then we’ll get down to business and start skating as a group of 26-28 players on Monday.”
The first exhibition game is September 10th on the road against Valley.
The Mariners begin their 20th season in the MHL on October 1st.
Barron says he’s been involved with the team for 16 and a half years.
“I had only been to Yarmouth once before to play hockey in the old arena. 20 years later, I’ve raised a family here. I’m just as excited to start the season today as I was in 2002.”
