The Trail Smoke Eaters had a productive weekend, as coaches put over 100 players through their paces in an effort to identify future Smoke Eaters.
Most of the 108 players attending camp were between 15 and 18 years old, and were split into six teams that scrimmaged over three days, supplemented by Smoke Eaters players like Kienan Scott, Jeremy Lucchini, Dallas Calvin, Craig Martin, Robbie Johnson and recent acquisition Rhett Willcox.
The six teams scrimmaged over the three days, giving Smokie coaches Nick Deschenes, Barry Zanier, and Craig Clare an opportunity to see players in simulated game situations. With last year’s starters Jake Lucchini, Martin, Calvin, Ryan Swanson, Harlan Orr, Bryan Basilico, Adam Todd, Bryan Gerstenfeld and Connor Wynne moving on, the Smokies look to fill in those holes in the line up, likely with a few of the prospects at the spring camp.
Notables include Colby Livingstone who played Junior A hockey in the Maritime Junior League with Amherst Ramblers last season. Livingstone was a Smokie AP for six games in the 2013-14 season while playing with the Creston Valley Thundercats of the KIJHL.
Rossland native Ross Armour and Montrose’s Spencer McLean of the Beaver Valley Nitehawks will also get a close look from the Smokies coaches as both played well as affiliate players last season.
The team will hold another spring camp in Whistler May 29-31 before taking to Cominco ice in August for their main camp.
See more on the Smoke Eaters camp in Tuesday’s Trail Times
