Natives’ brass ready for prospects camp

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Published on Thursday, June 30, 2016

File photo. Young hockey players are hoping to make a good impression at the Neepawa Natives prospects camp, scheduled for Brandon July 4-5 at the Sportsplex. 

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Editor note: Due to technical issues at the Sportsplex, the Neepawa Natives have to move the Monday portion of the camp to the Keystone Centre.  Registration is now at 2:00 pm on Monday, July 4th.  Ice sessions will be from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, then 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm.  July 5th will return to the Sportsplex. 

Scouts, coaches and management with the Neepawa Natives are looking forward to seeing the future of the franchise hit the ice in Brandon next week, as the MJHL club will hold its annual young prospects summer camp. Around 60 players, including the team’s top selections from the 2016 MJHL draft will participate in the event, which runs on Monday, July 4 and Tuesday, July 5 at the Sportsplex.

Neepawa Natives general manager Myles Cathcart said this will be an opportunity for the team’s top brass to evaluate players and decide which ones warrant a closer look at the training camp, scheduled for the fall.

“It’s an opportunity to get everyone together and see who has been working in the spring. Those players who have been doing what’s required to improve their strength and conditioning,” said Cathcart. “These two days will also give myself, the coaching staff and the scouts a better read on what these players could bring to the team. They’re competing for an opportunity, so it’s very important that they show off their skill set.”

For head coach Dustin Howden, this will be his first summer prospects camp since taking over the job as bench boss. He noted however, that from an evaluation perspective, not much will change from previous years.  

“For me, I’m still looking out for those players who come into the camp motivated,” said Howden. “Conditioning is another big plus. If a player comes to the camp and is in shape, they’ll be able to single themselves out from the pack. Those players will still be the ones giving that maximum effort every time they hit the ice at the end of a scrimmage, as they were at the beginning.”

The Neepawa Natives top prospects camp is open to the public. The on-ice sessions run Monday, July 4 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Tuesday, July 5 from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Sportsplex. As for the main training camp, it’ll occur in late August or early September, in Neepawa. The regular season for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League starts on Sept. 23, with five games on the schedule, including the Neepawa Natives hosting the Winkler Flyers at the Yellowhead Centre.