Season Preview: Yorkton Terriers

Post Pre Season/Pre Regular Season chat with Terriers' HC/GM Ed Zawatsky.

CS: Ed, let's start with recapping the Pre Season, you went 3-and-1, got a good look at a lot of guys, all in all, happy with how it went?

EZ: Yeah I think so. One of our concerns was to lighten up the exhibition schedule and work on a little bit of fitness and conditioning, but also work hard in the games and I think the guys did that. The guys we brought in lived up to expectations and it settled out for us as a staff to make the decisions and that's the way you want to make it happen.

CS: You mentioned your schedule was different than last year's Pre Season, you played a few more games a year ago, but I know you wanted to get more practice time in, which was something you felt you lacked ahead of last year's regular season.

EZ: Yeah for sure. Obviously one of the struggles we had last year was our slow start, and it's hard to come back from that. I think this year we're going to be better-prepared, physically and mentally, system-wise. When it starts here on Friday night, I feel better about where we are now than this time last year.

CS: Another thing you mentioned to me at the rink Friday was (Ass't Coach)Trent Cassan and the difference he's made in terms of keeping the guys focused.

EZ: Definitely. You noticed I was able to watch the games from upstairs and do my GM duties, and Trent was on the bench and implementing some of the things we want to see this year team-wise. That was a real plus and an asset that I was able to do my job as a GM and Trent was able to do his job as a coach.

CS: Still 30 guys around, is that a lot for this time of year or not?

EZ: No, I think that's about normal for where we want to be, maybe a little bit high right now, and we'll see how we practice this week. You'll maybe see us around 28 by Friday night's game and go from there for a few weeks and trim it down with maybe some trades, or some movement down to Junior "B".

CS: It's not too early to look ahead to Weyburn, it is your next game and first of the regular season, and they return a lot of guys just like you do, so it looks like a good test for right off the bat.

EZ: It sure is, anytime you can see Weyburn early, they usually set the tone for how the South is going to set up. Always a lot of good battles, they've had our number in the last few home openers, so we want to be ready. They've got another game tomorrow (TUE), and maybe we'll sneak down there and do a better job of having our team prepared for the Weyburn Red Wings on Friday.

CS: How about the goaltending battle, still four guys in camp, Jordan Barry and Devin Peters played on Friday night and both showed fairly well.

EZ: Yeah, everyone's impressed. Matt D'Orazio got in there for part of a game and did well, and Devon Byblow did well in a tough game in Estevan. I think Jordan Barry and Peters are emerging, but we've still gotta sort that out this week. I feel a little bit for (Trainer Ron Holloway), he's got a lot of temporary stalls back there, but we want to make sure we make the right decision. We haven't named our #1 guy for Friday yet, maybe we can do that by Thursday, but right now we're looking forward to a good week of practice.

CS: And have you heard anything from the Western League ranks, I know it's some of the big questions on the street, what's happening with Carter Smith, what's happening with Joel Danyluk, have you heard anything on either of those fronts?

EZ: No, I think it's going to take a little bit of time, and we understand that. Those teams have to make the right decisions, and they're playing exhibition for another week or so and then maybe trim their rosters. There was a big tournament in Saskatoon and our guy, Gary Carson (Head Scout) has been out watching games and seeing how teams are shaping up and making contacts that way. But it's business as usual for us and we're gonna move on, hopefully we get one or both of those guys back at some point, but right now we're concentrating on the 30 guys we've got right now.

CS: Well Eddie, hockey season's here, best of luck Friday against Weyburn.

EZ: Yeah it's an exciting time, and hopefully we have a big crowd here for the home opener.