ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins had the opportunity to watch players who will be part of the team's future, whether it be next season or further down the line, during their annual spring camp, held from Friday to Sunday at Affinity Place.
More than 100 players attended this year's prospect evaluation sessions. The athletes were divided into six teams, and each squad played four scrimmages.
The total number of players was higher than in previous years, said head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. It allowed the Bruins to add two teams, and to have more players on each team.
He said the camp numbers reflected a desire by the club to have more players present, and a greater interest from players in coming to Estevan.
"We want to … see a little bit more, and it seemed like players were more interested in attending," said Tatarnic.
The club has already committed to a few players out of camp. Brett Moch, a 6'2" defenceman from Lethbridge, Alta., skated on a defence pairing with Jagden Taylor, another 6'2" blue-liner who previously committed to the Bruins for next season.
"We like both of them together. They bring some size and they have a little bit of a physical element to their games," said Tatarnic.
Taylor spent last season with the Regina Pat Canadians U18 AAA program, and played one game with the Bruins as an affiliated player during the 2023-24 regular season.
Ben Polhill, a 6'3" goaltender out of the Edge Hockey Academy in Ontario, has also committed to the Bruins for next season.
"We knew about him previously, and we were pretty impressed with him at camp, too," said Tatarnic.
Another player in camp who has committed to the Bruins for next season is local product Carter Onrait, who was the captain and top scorer for the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears last season.
Among the local players, Tatarnic was pleased with defenceman Boston Tait, who played U15 AA hockey with the Estevan TS&M Bruins last season and is expected to be an early draft pick in the May 9 Western Hockey League Draft. Kobe Wotta, who hails from Arcola and played U18 AAA hockey in Estevan, had a good camp as well.
Several members of the Estevan Apex U18 AA Bruins, including forwards Tayson Deitze and Carter Hirsch, and defenceman Grayson Brock, impressed the club.
"I thought all of the local kids did really well at our camp, and we're going to bring pretty much all of them back to our main camp, so it's important to give those local guys an opportunity," said Tatarnic.
According to Tatarnic, there was a good balance of offence and defence at the camp.
"There was a couple of games where there was quite a bit of offence going on, and other games were pretty tight and you got to see the defensive side of the game. A couple of goalies were pretty strong," said Tatarnic.
Additional commitments for next season will be announced in the coming weeks.
