MJHL prospects hit the ice in Niverville and Steinbach

The region’s two Manitoba Junior Hockey League teams were hard at work last weekend, hosting their annual prospects camp.

The Niverville Nighthawks combined skates with their main camp as four teams of 18 2011-born players took to the ice alongside four teams of returning veterans and potential rookies for a total of 144 players.

Returning stars like Marlen Edwards played alongside up-and-coming locals like William Mateychuk on a team.

In Steinbach, the Pistons took a different track, putting together two teams of 20 players between the 2010s and 2011s. The scrimmage between the two teams the morning of Aug. 22 had plenty of competitiveness, with players battling both during play and after whistles.

Steinbach head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said he was happy with what he saw at the camp.

“The quality of play was excellent due to a lot of good players that chose to attend,” Dyck said.

“The competitiveness and physicality was very evident on both Friday and Saturday and that was also something that impressed our staff.”

Niverville general manager Mike McAulay said they want a chance to see as many players as possible,

“It’s good for the younger players to stick around and watch the next few skates to continue to see what it takes,” McAulay said.

“We definitely put an emphasis on giving players an opportunity to crack a roster spot and give them a long process.”

McAulay added it was “all hands on deck,” for the camp, with scouts and even former assistant coach Tyler Anderson standing behind the bench for one of the eight teams.

The Nighthawks even hosted exit interviews with the 2011-born players. The change in rules for the NCAA means more and more players are attending Western Hockey League camps now that prospects do not lose their American college eligibility if they sign with a major junior team.

Some MJHL teams have moved back their camps closer to the start of the regular season in response while others like Steinbach and Niverville have moved up their timetable to let players first attend their camps before heading out to a major junior outfit.

McAulay said moving camp to mid-August gives players a chance to skate before heading to WHL camps and the team an opportunity to work with the player in a familiar environment.

“I don’t think we’ve seen that impact yet, it’s going to take a couple years,” McAulay said on the effect the rule changes have had in the junior A ranks.

“You’ve seen some stuff at the top level, I think some of the higher-end players in the Western league are leaving earlier than teams expected and that will have a bit of a trickle down… The direction of rosters, both the Western league and junior A, I think we still need a couple years to see its full impact.”

Steinbach’s camp was the place to be for 2011-born players from the Eastman Selects system. All seven players who will be attending their first WHL camp (Nixon Gaudet, Braeden Gilbertson, Reed Sherry, Bryson Calder, Gabriel May, Ryder Olford and Brody Sawatzky) this fall were in Steinbach last weekend.

“If you looked at the rosters and saw the heavy content of strong young players from our region, you have to be encouraged,” Dyck, who grew up and developed as a player in Steinbach, said.

“The U15 and U17 programs both had excellent seasons so the evidence is there that development is taking place in Eastman.”

Main camp for MJHL teams will begin next week.