If you were at the myFM Centre this weekend, you might have seen the future of the Junior A Renfrew Wolves.
Head Coach Ryan Leonard and his staff held their annual training camp over the weekend after a disappointing first-round exit from the CCHL Playoffs.
While having plenty of skill last season, Leonard went into the three-day camp looking for a certain grit and character he feels like the Wolves lacked in the second half.
Leonard’s team of scouts was able to bring in talent from as far west as Victoria, B.C., and as far east as Newfoundland, a turnout he says reflects on how coveted playing in the CCHL is among junior-level players across the continent.
The opportunity to see that many players at once also helps for a team that will have to handle a fair amount of turnover, including 7 players who earned collegiate commitments over the past year, as Leonard sets his sights on bringing back the style of play originally versioned for the Wolves when they moved to Renfrew a few years ago.
The three-day event gives the Wolves one more chance to see players up close and speak to families ahead of an important day coming up later this week.
The CCHL has announced changes to this year’s player draft, focusing on local under-16, under-18, and lower-tier players eligible to play in the junior ranks.
Leonard isn’t too worried about the changes, noting that they’ve basically gone from selecting 15-year-old players to 16-year-olds instead.
(written by Kasey Egan)