For those eager to dive into the world of hockey this season, the Vermilion Tigers Tryout Camp is a key date to remember. Taking place from September 8 to 10, this camp is a great opportunity for players aged 16 to 20 (born between 2003 and 2007) to step onto the ice and show their stuff. Head Coach Danny Haygarth shared, “I am hoping to have at least 40 kids come out to our camp, and the registration form can be found on the Vermilion Tiger’s Facebook page.”
Haygarth, now in his second year coaching the team, reflected on their past successes. “Last year, we had a really great team that finished first in the league but lost in the second round of playoffs.” Looking ahead, he added, “We are hoping to be an even bigger and better team than last year.”
As summer winds down, hockey season ramps up, and the mission is clear: build a championship-worthy team. Haygarth emphasized, “We are hoping to get a team that is gonna try and win a championship, as it is always our goal to start the year.”
Haygarth detailed the tryout process. “On Friday, the first day of camp, we will split the kids into two teams. Many trying out may not have had much ice time.” Transitioning into Saturday, “We will have two mini-games for an hour and a half each,” he stated. Wrapping up the camp on Sunday, “We will have our inner squad game at 2:30 p.m.”
Post-tryouts, Haygarth explained, “We will cut the number of players by 12 guys or so, depending on how much talent is at the camp.” The chosen 28 players will proceed to the exhibition season on September 23rd and 24th, facing Cold Lake and Lloydminster consecutively.
“From the exhibition games, we will probably cut down again to carry anywhere from 23 to 25 players once the season starts,” Haygarth remarked. The season’s excitement kicks off with the home opener on September 30th at 7:30 p.m., a match against Cold Lake that promises to be a thrilling start.