Fifty-five players lived to see another day as the Winkler Flyers made their first round of cuts during training camp as they prepare for the start of their exhibition schedule which opens tomorrow against the Portage Terriers. It was a great three days of competition with the team obviously looking to be bigger, faster and stronger this season.

“Lots of young guys that are very talented and even our vets that came back to camp came in shape which is really nice to see, we’re very happy overall,” was how Head Coach and General Manager Mark Thiessen described the first three days of camp.

“The games that we played have been very intense and I think all the years I’ve been involved this is the most intense I’ve ever seen,” added Thiessen.

There were a number of standout performances from newcomers Chad James, who comes to the team as a rugged twenty year old defenseman, fellow defenseman Eric Smith, and Seth Ronsberg who is a big, young forward who shows a lot of offensive upside. This was also the Flyers first look at twenty-year old center Shael Hechter who was acquired in a trade with Nipawin this offseason.

There were many familiar faces in camp as well with goaltender Scott Hellyer back for another year. Defensemen Caleb Suderman, Troy Kliever, Mac Williams, and Cam Stevens, along with forwards Jordan Peters, Nick Lazorko, Michael Wilgosh, Jordan Neduzak, Brett Harder, Blair Osiowy, Brett Suderman, and Kyle Wells.

Nineteen players were cut after day three which now leaves the Flyers with seven goaltenders, eighteen defensemen, and thirty one forwards. Thiessen says they will cut another ten after their rookie game against the defending league champion Terriers tomorrow and another ten after their intrasquad game on Wednesday.

The Flyers decision making and roster tweaking will continue throughout the pre-season as the Orange and Black prepare for their September 12th season opener against the Winnipeg Saints and the Dakota Community Centre in Winnipeg.

Remember tickets for the Flyers pre-season rookie game against the Portage Terriers tomorrow as well as the annual intrasquad game on Wednesday can be purchased at the arena for the price of $5 for adults, $3 for students, 5 and under are free.