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Nothing guaranteed at Oilers main camp

The only guarantee is there will be no guarantees when the boys of winter return to the ice. Despite a veteran-laden returning roster no spots will be given, no positions slotted in prior to the Okotoks Oilers main camp from Aug.

The only guarantee is there will be no guarantees when the boys of winter return to the ice.

Despite a veteran-laden returning roster no spots will be given, no positions slotted in prior to the Okotoks Oilers main camp from Aug. 25-28 at Pason Centennial Arena.

“Even guys that will be on the team, they will be battling for different positioning, minutes in the game,” said Oilers first-year head coach Tyler Deis. “That competition, that’s just being an athlete.

“We will set the tone over the main camp that all these guys need to come in with nothing given to you, everything is going to be earned here.”

Establishing a culture of accountability is key for Deis who leads an all new coaching staff alongside assistants Kyle Schussler and Ryan Barrett.

“We want to set a culture in here where everyone wants to get better and wants to get to their personal excellence,” Deis added. “We don’t want guys to come in here content or anything like that. We want guys that are always striving to be better.”

Familiarity will not be in short supply in the dressing room as Okotoks brings 16 players back from last season’s roster along with a pair of former affiliates in Ayden Roche-Setoguchi and Regan Doig.

The group got back on the ice on the second week of August for a conditioning camp which left the new bench boss impressed.

“They all look like they’re ready to go here,” Deis said. “The excitement on the team was great. Everyone is pretty eager to get back and get going here.”

Main camp opens with off-ice fitness testing on Aug. 25 where prospective players are put through the paces in a series of examinations from the beep test to the bench press.

“This will be the first year so it gives us a baseline,” Deis said. “Then in the future it will be of huge importance if guys are getting weaker or slower, but first you have to create that baseline for these kids.”

The weekend camp shifts to the ice as prospects strut their stuff in intra-squad games before culminating in the black-and-white game featuring the top players from the weekend on Aug. 28.

Position battles to look for include the second goaltending spot alongside third-year incumbent Riley Morris as well as a competitive group of forwards jockeying for positions on the depth chart. On defence, the green-and-gold look solid with six returners along with signed prospect Ryan Roberts from Saskatchewan.

“With everyone coming back this year there should be some pretty big years and guys being pretty confident,” the coach said. “If they stay focused and do the hard work I think we should see some pretty big seasons (offensively) from some individuals.”

For more information on go to okotoksoilers.ca


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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