It's another sign summer is ending as the Elgar Petersen Arena (EPA) will be busy this weekend with the Humboldt Broncos training camp.
The Broncos will hit the ice on Friday, with a pair of practices, first at 2:00 pm, then at 3:15 pm, with the goalies workout at 4:30 pm. Day one will finish with a scrimmage at 8:30 pm.
On Saturday, the first practice is at 11:00 am, then at 12:30 pm, and a scrimmage at 6:00 pm.
Training camp ends on Sunday with the top 40 players competing in the Green and Gold at 1:00.
This weekend will also mark a new era with Brayden Klimosko taking over as the team’s head coach and general manager.
He believes one of the keys to success is having a group of dedicated players.
“To win, you got to go through the process, you got to get guys who want to be here, that want to work hard and get better every day.”
Klimosko noted having players who are working towards moving on to the next level, can pay immediate dividends for the Broncos.
“Guys who will get Division One scholarships, that will get U Sports opportunities, I think that’s important is to have those guys move on to the next level where you have guys moving on, then if feels like you have guys who will be set for success when playoff time comes.”
With three days on the ice, there won’t be much time for Klimosko and Assistant Coach Carter Hansen to implement their system, so the players will have to buy in very quickly.
“We really want guys get to know what Haner (Hansen) and I are looking for and really get to work right from the beginning, so that’s the goal, to make it a more business-like atmosphere, right from the start of camp.”
Fans are welcome to stop by the EPA throughout the weekend to get a glimpse of the Broncos training camp.
The Broncos have four exhibition games, Friday September 6 in Kindersley. The two teams will meet the next night in Humboldt.
Humboldt and the Melfort Mustangs will face off in a pair of preseason games, Friday September 13 and then in Melfort on Saturday, September 14.
The Broncos will open the regular season against Notre Dame on Saturday, September 21.