Skyhawks spring camp - NOJHL down to 7

Skyhawks prospects crash the net during Sunday's scrimmage at Pet Palangio arena. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The Skyhawks season ended less than two weeks ago but that didn't stop club management from holding a training camp on the weekend for Skyhawks prospects.

The Skyhawks coaching staff watched 34 players from across Northern Ontario, including some elite players from the Great North Midget League; five alone from the Valley East Cobras.

"We want to make contact with a lot of players out there to let them know that they've done something good over the past season and we're interested in their services for next year," said Skyhawks head coach Randy Edmonds.

Nine local players from the Trappers and the NDA suited up for the weekend camp which included a practice and a scrimmage on Saturday and a final scrimmage again Sunday morning. Edmonds believes spring camps are becoming a valuable tool for junior hockey clubs to get a jump on their competition.

"A lot of teams down south hold these camps and by the time we get a hold of them in August there are several teams that have already been in contact with them, so we're trying to get them in here a little earlier and let them know what we are all about and start their summer fitness right now and try to get them ready and for a lot of these kids it's a big jump to junior hockey and the number one issue seems to be their fitness level." Edmonds said.

Sabrecats sidelined

In NOJHL news, the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats will be taking a one year leave of absence from the league. The struggling club made a request to the league and it was approved Saturday night at the annual league meeting. Meantime the Sudbury Northern Wolves announced that they have been purchased by their big brothers the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. The Cats hiatus will give the Northern Wolves an amalgamated team in Sudbury which should be much more competitive this season.