Sep 06, 2008 | smciver | 1143 views
Lakers roster starts to take shape
After 3 tryout sessions & 2 exhibition games, 14 players have secured a spot on this year's Major Midget team.
Championship teams are built on defense & the Lakers are solid starting in net. Both goaltenders this season are new to the team but not 'AAA'. Brandon Garner & Derrick Mitchell have been selected to backstop the team towards the ultimate goal of an Alliance Championship. Garner played for Chatham-Kent last year & Mitchell played Midget & Jr C in Goderich.
On defense, Tyler Bryson, Connor Devereaux, and Tyler Durst return to the Lakers blueline after a successful last season with the Minor Midgets. New to this year's team will be Tyler Tolton, Wade Pfeffer & Ryan Sykes. Tolton & Pfeffer were affiliate players last season with the Lakers Minor Midgets while Sykes returns to us after a year with the Kitchener Jr Rangers Minor Midget team.
Up front the Lakers have talent beyond belief with the likes of Darren Young, Dean Klomp, Patrick McLellan & converted defenseman Braden Connolly- all of which played for the Minor Midgets last season. Brett McGuinness echoes that ability & is a returning Major Midget player. New to this year's team is Mac Campbell. You would never know he is playing his 1st year of 'AAA' hockey after a successful season with the Minor Midget team in Stratford last year.
The Lakers continue to make strides with the local Jr B clubs as Connor Devereaux saw his 1st action of the season last night as an Affiliate Player with the Stratford Cullitons Jr B club in their Home Opener. While Tyler Bryson dressed last night as an Affiliate with the St Marys Lincolns.
The team will look to fill the remaining spots in the coming days once confirmation is received on which players will be returning from Jr C camps before this Thursday's deadline & the remaining players in camp have ample opportunity to secure a spot.
The Lakers open the Regular Season next Saturday at home against the Windsor Jr Spitfires.