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From the Times: Winter Hawks camp opens Monday

Winter Hawks camp opens Monday There’s a feeling of anticipation filtering through the Cambridge Winter Hawks this season. Not only are they open training camp early this year, on Monday, but they will also have a good number of familiar bodies back. Last season, general manager Ken Jeysman was trying to piece together a team after the number of returnees could be counted on one hand. This season, he has possible 12 players coming back who are now a year older and have more experience in the league. “It’s a little different than last year because we have more people returning,” Jeysman said. “Instead of last year hitting the ground treading water, we’re hitting the ground running.” Already signed on for this season are forwards Josh Timpano, captain Ryan Clarke, Brandon Zimmerman, Rob Bennett, Chris Chapman, Christian Barnard and Jeff Howlett, defenceman Dylan Decker and goalie Brendan Gorecki. Scott Mitchell will return to the team if he doesn’t stick with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and Tyler Snyder is getting in shape for a possible return. The Winter Hawks will also find out this week if Trevor Hache is returning. Last year’s team playoff MVP Colin Furlong is skating with the Hamilton Red Wings and will attend the Guelph Storm camp. If he ends up in one of those places, midget graduate Lucas Machalski is a string candidate to take his spot. The Cambridge netminder backed up Furlong in two games last year and even played a period in a 13-2 win in Owen Sound, stopping all 11 shots he faced. Besides the returnees, the Winter Hawks have signed defencemen Andrew Coupland and Elmira’s Taylor Doring, and forwards Cody Gratton and Acton’s Ben Roelofson. With that many players inked, Jeysman isn’t sweating it out prior to training camp as he was last year. “It’s a big difference,” he said. “Last year, we had to grab players in a hurry because of the mass exodus. “Now it’s different, right? We’ll probably only have three players that haven’t played in the league before. It’s a big difference; a year older and a little more experience. All of sudden we’re not sitting in the same spot.” With that many players signed, it also means that training camp – which will have 40 to 50 players – should be a spirited one with so few spots open. That means, unlike last year, the Winter Hawks can be more selective of who they want on the roster. Jeysman said the team is looking to start the season with 23 players. “I think it should be very exciting. It’s kind of nice, as we have some guys vying for these spots who are training very hard and say they’ll do whatever it takes to make it. Which is a different attitude. “A lot of these guys have a lot more grit. I’m not saying tough, but grit. We’re looking for those players that aren’t afraid to go through and work hard on the wall.” Besides spirited, training camp could also be the toughest it has been in years. “Camp starts with a fitness test that will probably have a few kids puking,” Jeysman said with a laugh.   Courtesy of Bill Doucet at the Cambridge Times. See the original article here!

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