The Smithers Steelheads’ roster is still up in the air, despite the fact that their first game is this week.
Steelheads head coach Tom DeVries said most players are returning this year, but noted they will have to figure out players’ availability before they finalize the roster.
“Some [players] are gone at work too. We have to add them as they’re going to play. If they’re not going play this weekend, then we’ll wait and see,” said DeVries.
Darryl Young, who has been captain for a number of years, is planning on playing less games this season to spend more time with his family.
“I wasn’t going to commit to a full season and all the travel. I’ve done it for nine or 10 years and it’s time for me to slow down a bit,” said Young.
With Young playing less, the team will be in need of a new captain.
Young speculated forwards Ian Smith and Adam DeVries would make good replacements.
Starting goaltenders are also questionable with some of their current goalies at work camps.
“We had a couple of guys who came and tried out but they haven’t been our goalies before,” said DeVries. “It’s a wait and see process.”
But DeVries isn’t worried.
“Sometimes it takes about a month or so before we figure things out,” he said.
The first game of the season is in Terrace on Saturday, Oct. 4 against the Terrace River Kings.
