YORKTON - The Yorkton Terriers held their fall camp on the weekend and all eyes were on the hopefuls guarding the twine.
The key battle was in net where the Terriers needed a completely new tandem after last year’s duo of Tresor Wotton and Kael DePape are no longer with the team. Wotton was returned to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League per a previous arrangement and DePape announced late in the summer he was heading to the United States to play junior.
DePape’s announcement leaves a massive hole after settling in last season as the top man in net winning 22 games and posting 2.42 goals against average.
“It was tough news to hear for sure,” said Hehr heading into camp, adding it came late enough in the summer the team has been left scrambling a bit for options. “. . . He kind of made that decision pretty late in the summer.”
But Hehr said he believes they have their number one in Caleb Allen.
“He was lights out all weekend,” said the Terrier coach of the Colorado-netminder.
Hehr said Allen had been a key find “after the while DePape thing,” adding he came to camp recommended by Matt Zaba and others.
“He has really good recommendations that he was going to be the guy if he came in.”
Beyond goal, Hehr said the overall camp was a good one.
“I was really happy with the whole weekend,” he said. “The returning guys showed really well.”
And, so to did the players Hehr had signed over the summer.
Among the new faces expected to contribute this season are defenceman Cade Van Brabant, and forwards Pavel McKenzie, Dylan Ruptash and Brett Butz.
“I think there’s already great chemistry,” said Hehr, adding they actually created four lines with what they felt would be the top-12 forwards coming out of camp, and they were already clicking.
“There’s lot of talent there, lots of speed,” he said, adding he already feels as if they will surprise early.
Evaluations will continue through Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League preseason action, starting with the annual rookie game slated for tonight (Monday, Aug, 29), with a 7 p.m. start time, which will be the regular start time for Terrier home games this season.
Hehr said he expects to dress only four ‘signed’ players for the game, with the rest essentially playing to impress with an eye to being Terriers next fall.
The Terriers will then play exhibition games starting Saturday in Melville, then host Waywayseecappo next Tuesday, Sept. 6, and Melville Sept. 7, before heading back to Melville for a four-team weekend tourney where they will play Dauphin and Notre Dame. The concept has the event moving around to be hosted by each team over four years, said Hehr.
