Eighty six young men will converge on the Winkler Recreation Complex on Wednesday, September 2nd for Winkler Flyers Main Camp. With 11 key returning players from last year’s squad, the Flyers 35th Anniversary season could be one of the best in years.
“We are very excited to get things going on Wednesday,” said Flyers Head Coach and General Manager Ken Pearson. “The core of our team is basically intact from last season, and the strides we made in 14-15 and the lessons learned will only make us better this year.” added Pearson.
Reigning Manitoba Junior Hockey League MVP Tristan Keck returns for his fourth and final season in Winkler. In 154 regular season games as a Flyer, the Morris, Manitoba native has 94 goals and 163 points. Also returning for his final year up front is Flyers Playoff MVP Cam Whyte who is coming off a career year with 24 goals and 54 points in his first season in Winkler. Kayden Jarvis is the third returning 20 year old forward. The Winnipeg native was tied for fourth on the team with 14 goals in his rookie season.
Morden product Scott Gall is back for his third season in an Orange and Black uniform. He recorded a career high 23 goals and 39 points in 46 regular season games last season. Local forwards Nolan McGuire and Jeff Michiels are also back for their sophomore season.
One of the biggest strengths of the Flyers this season will be on the blueline with five of the seven defensemen returning from last season. The defense corps will be anchored by 20 year olds Zak Hicks and Nathan Karlowsky, both back for their third seasons. Nineteen year old Connor Hamonic is also back for this third year, with fellow nineteen year old Jordan Wall from Winkler back for his second. Rosetown’s Lawson McDonald, who led all Flyers’ defensemen with 10 goals last year is also back for his third year on Winkler’s blueline.
With both goaltenders leaving due to graduation, there will be a new duo between the pipes. Newly acquired goaltender Ryan Larochelle and others, such as Pembina Valley Hawks netminder Travis Klassen will battle it out over the next few weeks.
Filling the holes left by nine graduating 20 year olds will be some of the top players from AAA Midget and Hockey School Hockey a season ago.
Following three days of practices and scrimmages from Wednesday through Friday, the Flyers will hold their annual Orange vs Black final 40 Intrasquad Game on Saturday, September 5th at 12:00pm. The Intrasquad game is free of charge. See below for the full camp schedule.
Winkler Flyers 2015 Main Camp Schedule
Wednesday, September 2nd:
2:30pm Team Red Registration
3:30pm – 4:15pm Team Red Practice
3:30pm Team White Registration
4:30pm – 5:15pm: Team White Practice
4:30pm Team Orange Registration
5:30pm – 6:15pm Team Orange Practice
5:30pm Team Grey Registration
6:30pm – 7:15pm Team Grey Practice
6:30pm Team Black Registration
7:30pm – 8:15pm: Team Black Practice
Thursday, September 3rd:
10:00am Team Red vs Team White
12:00pm Team Orange vs Team Grey
2:00pm Team Black vs Team Red
4:00pm: Team White vs Team Grey
6:00pm: Team Black vs Team Orange
Friday, September 4th:
9:00am: Team Grey vs Team Red
11:00am Team Black vs Team White
1:00 pm Team Red vs Team Orange
3:00pm Team Grey vs Team Black
5:00pm Team White vs Team Orange
Saturday, September 5th:
12:00pm: Orange vs Black final 40 Game.
*NOTE: All preliminary games are 2 x 30 minute periods with a flood between periods. Player cut down will take place on Friday. Players moving to the Orange vs Black game will be told at cut down meeting.
*Schedule is subject to change.