“No excuses.” That was clearly the message Oceanside Generals head coach Jesse Hammill want players vying for a spot in this year’s roster to know. Those words were clearly printed at the back of Hammill’s shirt.
There were 45 players that signed up for the Generals main camp that started at the Community Park in Parksville on Friday. It was followed by scrimmages on the ice at Oceanside Place.
Hammill kept a close watch on players that put in genuine “effort” as they went through a variety of gruelling exercises that tested their stamina, endurance and perseverance.
“Everything today was about quitting; who’s gonna quit, who’s gonna push through,” said Hammill. “Same thing on the ice. I want to see battle, I want to see tough, physical hockey and guys that are going to try and earn a spot.”
The Generals have 10 returning players but some of them are also trying out to make junior A teams making it difficult for Hammill to determine what his line-up is going to be like in the 2018-2019 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season.
“We lost a couple of guys quite recently in the last of couple of weeks due to school and that kind of things so when you think you got it all mapped out as to who is coming to camp and the players returning, it’s always tough that way,” said Hammill. “But we’re a development program and that’s what we do. We recruit kids. And when these things happen, we kind of roll with the punches and do the best we can.”
Among those who showed up in camp ready to play was defenceman Brandon Hannibal, who topped the gruelling beep test.
“I worked on getting bigger, stronger and faster, so I can move quicker in front of the net,” said Hannibal. “It’s important to be in shape because late in the game you’ve got to get that extra stride on that guy and if you go into overtime you’ve got to be at those guys.”
Another player who also prepared for camp and is hoping to make the main roster was last year’s affiliate player, Carter Nelson of Port Alberni.
“I did training and did some cardio in the gym, trying to improve my skating capabilities for this year and hope to crack the roster,” said Nelson, who last year played in midget tier I.
This year the Generals will have Andrew Riddell assisting in the coaching. Riddell, who played in the BC Junior Hockey League with the Port Alberni Bulldogs, is looking forward to helping out the Generals this year.
“It’s exciting to be back around these guys, around the hockey players and coaching staff,” said Riddell.
“The Generals have been around for decades so I am really happy that I was asked to be part of this team this season and contributing as much as I can.”
The Generals have lined up three pre-season games. On Friday, Aug. 24, the Generals will host arch-nemesis the Nanaimo Buccaneers at Oceanside Place at 7 p.m. Then the next day, they head to Nanaimo to play the Bucs at the Nanaimo Ice Centre at 7:15 p.m.
On Aug. 29, the Generals travel to Campbell River to face the Storm at Rob Brind’Amour Arena at 7 p.m.