Camp Preview: Wayway Wolverines

Wolverines' Camp begins Saturday at the Recreation Complex. Head Coach and GM Barry Butler gave me the details today.

CS: Barry, it's been one of the hottest weeks of the year, but it's also time for hockey. Sounds like you're splitting up the rookies and vets to start?

BB: Yes we are Craig. Rookie camp starts on Saturday here with registration at 5:30. We have a couple of ice sessions that night. Then we're going to wind up rookie camp on Monday with a couple scrimmages in the morning, then player interviews in the afternoon, and then we'll get ready for Main Camp which is going to start Tuesday.

CS: So is Main Camp all returning guys, or do mix in some of the top rookies as well?

BB: We'll mix in a few hold-overs from rookie camp, and a few new guys who we've committed to and have committed to us, they'll be part of the main camp as well. We're starting out with one of the largest rookie camps we've had here, so main camp will be a good size too.

CS: When you look at last year's team and who's not back, obviously names like Carter Davis, Sean Collins, Brock Turner really stand out, so you could say there are some holes to be filled, but you've got a lot coming back don't you.

BB: Well our program is set up for guys from within to take over, and you've got a 100 point guy in Jason Bowles in the lineup, you've got Dave Lamouche, 80+ points, Paul Marcoux. Then there's Cody Danychuk on defense, Ian Clarke, both our goaltenders are back, so there's a number of guys the program's set up to take over the load, and continue forward.

CS: One guy who's not back who maybe not everyone knows about is Paul Vandevelde who's going to the Western Hockey League. Was that a bit surprising? It sounded like he was going to pursue NCAA, but now of course he can't do that now that he's with Everett.

BB: Well, I guess Everett made him a package that Paul thought he couldn't refuse, and with the injury to his knee, there's no guarantee that Paul can continue to play, and with that package he's going to go give it a try. He never ruled out, he told me in a phone conversation the other day if it didn't work out the way he thought, he has no problem coming to play for Wayway, but in the end he realizes then he'd have to go to University in Canada and he has no problem with that either.

CS: Now in goal you've got a 19-year-old in Deszi Wiens and a 20-year-old in Matt Kinsella both coming back... is it possible you'll still have both guys come the regular season, or can you see them both wanting to be #1's.

BB: Well, hopefully they both want to be a #1, and then we've got an All-Star goalie from the Manitoba "AAA" Midget two years in a row, Carey Dyck from Pembina Valley coming in, so it's going to be quite a challenging spot and that's a good position to be in, so hopefully all three guys want to be #1 and make our decision pretty tough.

CS: What's Pre-Season like for you guys, I know you come this way to Melville for a home and home.

BB: Yeah we start August 30th with a rookie game in Neepawa, then we've got Neepawa back here on the 2nd. Then we play Melville on the 6th in Melville, on the 8th at home and also play Swan River home and home, so we've got 6 exhibition games and they come up pretty quick.

CS: As far as last year's graduates, Sean Collins is going to Cornell on a 4-year deal, also got drafted. Then a couple guys like Davis and Turner were up in the air, do you have any updates there?

BB: Yeah, Turner and Davis have committed to schools. Brock's committed to the University of Western Ontario, and Carter's committed to St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. We're waiting to see what Cam Chalmers is going to do, he's got 3 different pro opportunities right now. Some of the other graduates are moving on in the work field and taking on life that way.

Wayway Training Camp

Friday 5:30 - Rookies Register
Friday night - Ice Sessions
Saturday- Rookie Sessions
Sunday 10:00 - Rookie Session
Sunday 1:00 - 2:00 - Vets Skate
Sunday 6:00 - 8:45 - Rookie Session
Monday 10:00 - 12:00 - Rookie Scrimmages
Monday Afternoon - Player Meetings
Tuesday 5:00 - Main Camp Registration
Friday, Aug 29 1:00 - Intrasquad Game