It’s open house as the Lloydminster Bobcats hit the ice Friday morning for the start of preseason camp.
Fifty players will be showing off their hockey skills in practise games over the weekend with the hopes of making the final 25 to represent the Border City in the forthcoming AJHL competition for 2021-22.
A team will be on the ice from as early as 8:15 a.m., with the first game slated for 9:30 a.m.
GM and Head Coach Nigel Dube says hockey lovers can plan to spend the weekend savouring the youthful skills.
“Friday will be filled pretty much all day. If you stop by the Civic, we will have hockey going on. Then Saturday afternoon, we slow things down with games. Then Sunday, it’s a morning set of games and an afternoon set of games to round out the weekend.”
The players will be divided into three teams with the final selection coming at the end of camp in time for preseason games next Wednesday September 1.
“At the end of the day, we are looking for the 25 best players that will fit the Bobcats organization, but at the same time, we enjoy building a relationship for our younger prospects and having our local players out as well.”
The preseason games will take the team to Spruce Grove, then over to Bonnyville, September 5. The first home preseason game will be September 7 and again on September 11, before the first home AJHL game on September 18 against the Bonnyville Pontiacs.