Female Chiefs set for Swift Current
- Details
- Published on Friday, September 11, 2015
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
The Yellowhead AAA Female Chiefs are hoping to be in mid-season form even before the first face-off of the Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League regular season. The team has completed its training camp and has selected the roster for the upcoming year.
Head coach Derek Tibbatts said the amount of talented players who tried to earn a spot on the club this year was very impressive.
“At training camp, we had about 38 players out, including the goalies. That’s better numbers than last year and on top of that, there was a good level of skill out there on ice to choose from,” said Tibbatts. “The majority of our veteran players are back. There are about 14 returnees, so that veteran presence should ensure that we hold our own. Our young players also have a lot of potential and will have a chance to establish themselves. Overall, this team should have a lot of speed on the centre and wings, a strong defence and great consistency in the net. Overall, I feel as though this team is in a very good position heading into the regular season.”
Tibbatts said while the training camp went very well for them, an upcoming pre-season tournament in Swift Current, Saskatchewan will provide the first real opportunity for the coaching staff to see what they have in terms of a team.
“Hopefully this will get us ready for the start of the regular season. I’d like to see a strong effort out there on the ice. For [the players] to come to play and just see how they adapt to playing some teams that they’re unfamiliar with,” said Tibbatts.
Yellowhead will play three games in three days in Swift Current. The first is Friday, Sept. 11, against the Saskatchewan Under-16 team. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the Regina Rebels will be the opponent and on Sunday, Sept. 13, the Chiefs will be challenged by the Weyburn Gold Wings.
After the Chiefs return from Swift Current, they will participate in the annual Central Plains Showcase at the PCU Centre from Sept. 25-27. As for the first regular season game for Yellowhead, it is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2 in Shoal Lake against the Norman Wild.
