Neepawa Natives spring training camp a success
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- Published on Wednesday, April 1, 2015
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
Just under a hundred young prospects hit the ice at the Yellowhead Arena last weekend, hoping to make an impression during the Neepawa Natives spring training camp. The three day camp saw management for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League club evaluate 94 players from the 1999-2000 draft eligible age bracket, as well the team’s 50-man protected list. Several walk-on players also participated.
Neepawa Natives general manager Myles Cathcart said the club is very pleased with what they saw out on the ice this past weekend.
“It was a lot of work to put together, but we were happy with the response. I believe we ended up with 93 or 94 young players attending. It was good,” said Cathcart. “There was a good mix of young prospects in attendance that we’ve been keeping an eye on and even a couple walk-ons that showed what they could offer.”
Several members of the Neepawa Natives roster also attended the camp, helping to run the players through the drills and offering their thoughts to management about what they saw on the ice. Cathcart said that type of feedback is invaluable.
“It was great. A lot of veterans came out for a skate. To assist with the camp and offer their thoughts on what they saw,” said Cathcart. “There was some good talent out there. Some of the veterans that came back, identified those skills and made some comments about a few of them and that’s helpful, getting that other perspective.”
Cathcart said the next little while will remain busy for the team, as they go through their notes and make a few decisions on who they’d like to get another look at. He said another camp, involving just the 50 top listed prospects during the summer in Brandon, will be the next important opportunity.
“Some of them will get invites [to the main fall training camp]. We’re also going to host a top 50 camp in Brandon in July,” said Cathcart. “We’re finalizing the ice schedule for the Sportsplex in Brandon. That will be a two day camp. We’ll invite some of the players from this camp to that and go from there.”
