Cranbrook Bucks complete 2nd annual rookie camp

The head coach of the Cranbrook Bucks is happy to be back at the rink, and is encouraged with the level of competitiveness he’s seeing from roster hopefuls at this year’s rookie camp.

The team held it’s rookie camp this week at Western Financial Place, with exit interviews being conducted on Thursday.

Ryan Donald expects the Bucks to be a hard team to play against in the club’s second season in the BCHL.

“We still want to embody lots of the qualities that we felt we established last year with our compete level and the pace that we’re going to play with,” Donald says. “I feel like we could add a little bit of offence.”

Seven players earned roster spots following last year’s rookie camp, and Donald is hoping to see a few prospects stick around this year.

“We want to see guys that are looking to play in this league,” says Donald. “We’re going to evaluate them and give them an opportunity to grow and develop, but also take a look at guys we think that could potentially crack our roster this season as well as guys we think could be prospects for this program in the future.”

Cranbrook’s first BCHL season was played under a pod format in Penticton with the host Vees and the Trail Smoke Eaters, they finished with a 3-16-0-1 record.

The Bucks begin main camp and their preseason schedule later in September, the regular season starts in October.

Meanwhile, the BCHL is supporting provincial health mandates requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 at its venues.

All spectators attending BCHL games this year will be required to display proof of vaccination upon entry, this mandate also extends to players and team staff.

View more information from the BCHL below:

– Ryan Donald – Head Coach-General Manager, Cranbrook Bucks

– Includes files from BCHL