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Stars' prospects camp has coach excited
"I just stopped drooling last night," Ron Horvat said with a laugh as he looked back Monday over the weekend.
The head coach of the St. Thomas Stars was more than just a little impressed with the talent of the 108 players who attended the Jr. B hockey club's prospects camp at the Timken Centre.
"There were a lot of good hockey players out there," he said after he and his staff whittled six teams of prospects down to the top 40 for Sunday's wrap-up game.
Some of the hopefuls were from out of the area , but about 80% were St. Thomas-Elgin and Middlesex prospects.
"You try to look at what your needs are and we've lost three forwards and two on defence. That's what I'm trying to replace . . . and a goalie.
"Going through the playoffs and seeing what your needs are, you kinda look at those kids and say, Can we take that kid and develop him so that we can get to that point again?'
"That's in the back on my mind all the time: Can I work with that kid and how good is he going to be after three or four months of Jr. B under his belt?
"Of course you have to consider the age factor, too. There were a lot of young guys, some 15-year-olds and some 16 and 17. And you only get the two 16-year-old cards. There were probably 15 guys trying out for those two spots.
Two of those who impressed were St. Thomas players taken last month in the Ontario Hockey League's selection of midget players -- forward Alex Morgan (Saginaw) and defenceman Mike Wooley (Sarnia).
"Morgan looked good and Mike Woolley showed very well. They showed why they were drafted to the OHL."
Overall, said Horvat, "it was a very highly skilled camp with a lot of speed. It was a very even camp with a lot of hockey players who could bring it.
"We got down to 40 guys on Sunday and, out of them, we're probably looking at 30, maybe 32, that are going to come to the main camp.
"There were no 19-or 20-year-olds, so come the main camp, these kids will join all the veterans and the 19-and 20-year-olds who are also trying out for our team. There will probably be 65 players at the main camp Aug. 27-29.
"Then, during the following week, there will be some exhibition games, three or four, that the fans will be able to watch -- a couple home and a couple away."
The coach also took notice that a healthy handful of Stars fans were taking in the weekend action.
"We guessed there were more than 150 people there on Sunday. They were watching because that was the big game with the top 40 guys in our eyes. It was a great game -- two hours with three, 20-minute stop-time periods just like a regular game. We wanted to put them through that routine. That way you can see who can hack the pace.
"There were a few standouts and then there were a lot of kids who were really close. It may have been easier in the early games, but for that one everybody brought it.
"I think the buzz of how we did last year was still there. Fans wanted to see what was going on. They knew we're missing five guys and they were looking to see who we're going to bring in this year."
Horvat is anxious.
"It's nice to have the summer, but deep down you can't wait to get going again.
"I know the kids, they're feeling the same way. They continue to work all summer and they get some ice time and do their fitness training trying to make our team and other junior teams out there."
He also hailed the work of general manager Joe Daniels and the Stars staff and volunteers who kept the camp humming.
"Joe did a great job setting it all up ... it was a well-run machine."
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