North Bay hockey fans will get to see the latest Battalion prospects on the ice for the first time this weekend as the local OHL squad hosts its annual Spring Orientation camp at Memorial Gardens.
A total of 36 prospects and free agents will take part in the camp which includes two ice sessions, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday morning.
‘Our coaching staff and management staff will sit up and assess and we will see certain things about players game’s that we like and we give them their training programs,” said Rabideau.
“They all head home for the summer and they all come back in August and we will pick our team from there.”
Rabideau says the camp gives the players a real feel what the OHL is all about, on and off the ice.
“They get to meet the people involved with the organization,” said Rabideau.
“We kind of do a nice added touch with the boat cruise, a couple scrimmages, fitness testing so it is a bit of an eye-opener for these young players coming in and just that experience you hope they bring back in August and they are ready to compete for a spot.”
The camp will also be a chance for fans to see Pacey Schlueting but a Battalion jersey on officially for the first time this weekend.
The 2018 first round pick from North Bay, recently signed with the Battalion. He has no issue going into the camp with the title of “first round pick” pasted on his back.
“I am not going to worry about it too much I am just going to go out there and do my thing and give my best and my full effort that is all I can do,” said Schlueting.
