Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Second Year Pats Prospects Ready for Camp

Press Release

Regina, Saskatchewan – This weekend’s Regina Pats Spring Development camp is an early opportunity for 1997-born players in the organizational pipeline to make their case for a place on the Pats roster come the fall.  With a year of midget hockey under their belts, these prospects hope to display the improvements in their game to the Pats’ coaching staff who will work closely with the young players over the three day camp.

Drafted 31st overall by the Pats in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, defenceman Brady Reagan comes into his second Spring Camp with the Blue and White with eyes on playing the WHL in 2013-14.  Reagan sees the camp as an opportunity to begin proving himself on and off the ice. “Just letting the coaching staff, and everybody, know that I’m ready for (main) camp at the end of August through my play at this camp,” said the 15 year old defenceman.  “Even helping out the new prospect players because (the 97’s) will be the oldest guys there so it will be good for us to show them the ways now.”

The Okanagan Falls, B.C. product feels his first camp last season was an opportunity to become comfortable with the WHL organization, “getting to know the city, getting to know the people in the organization and the players they want to go through that organization… it just all helped and connected really well.”

This weekend will be Malcolm Cameron’s first camp as Head Coach of the Pats, but he says the goals for the weekend remain the same.  “We want to take a good look at these young fellas here and see the guys who are coming back for the second year,” commented the Pats’ new bench boss.  “We want to see how much they’ve improved, how much bigger they’ve gotten, how much stronger they’ve gotten and how the training’s coming along.”

“You’re always looking for compete level, that’s the biggest thing,” continued Cameron.  “We’re not going to judge perfection this weekend… that’s what Training Camp is for.  We always like to see what their hockey I.Q. is, what their skating is like and what their compete level is.

The Pats take to the ice Friday evening at 6 p.m. followed by 10 a.m. on ice sessions Saturday and Sunday morning.  Practices at the Cooperators Centre are open to the public so fans can take a look at the next generation of Pats who, much like Reagan, are excited to come back to Regina.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the organization again, seeing the new prospects they picked at the draft and showing the Pats I’m ready for a spot next year.”

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

No comments: