Battalion Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Stan Butler speaks with the media on Wednesday afternoon. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
The North Bay Battalion opened training camp on Wednesday.
A total of 50 hopefuls took part in fitness testing, meetings and a school visit to Chippewa Senior Secondary.
The club had 17 players from last year’s roster at day one of training camp.
Stan Butler, the Battalion Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations says he reminded players that spots aren’t guaranteed, they are earned.
“There are lots of spots because in hockey your name plates slide in and out of your locker,” said Butler.
“We are here to pick the best players for the team and if that means players from last year’s team, can’t make our team, then that means our team will be stronger this year and that’s the way we go.”
The players hit the ice Thursday morning for the first time and will play the first of three Green-White Intersquad game’s this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
Butler says it’s important for the hopefuls to show their best attributes.
“I said in our meeting that it was very, very important that whatever you do well you've got to do well,” Butler said. “What I mean by that is if you are an offensive defenceman, show that you are an offensive defenceman, if you are a physical winger, show you are a physical winger. Like I explained to them after doing the Team Canada thing this summer, you only have a few days here to impress and whatever you feel your strength that’s got you here, make sure you show that to the coaches in that time.”
The Battalion will continue with intersquad contests on Friday and Saturday before traveling to Sudbury for their first exhibition tilt against the new look Sudbury Wolves on Sunday afternoon.
