Training camp is just two weeks away for the Weyburn Red Wings. When the players hit the ice, it will cap off what has been a summer filled with hard work for general manager Tanner McCall, who has been working to find the best possible players to wear the red and white of the Wings this season.

“It will be nice to see them all together, and in one place,” McCall said. “We’ll have to see how it kind of works itself out.”

One place where there will be a focus is on the back end. The Red Wings had the fifth lowest goals against in the league last season, and it is something McCall said will be a strong part of the game again this season.

“We’re going to have a terrific backend, no different than we have last year,” McCall stated. He added the team will be returning a number of players from last season. He also feels goaltending will be one of the biggest strengths of the club this season. With Carter Phair and Jake MacLennan returning this season, and the addition of Arik Weersink from Grande Prairie, McCall is expecting a battle for the position.

Netminder Shaun Fleming, who had been with the organization since he was 15, has opted to not play his final year of junior hockey after suffering a shoulder injury late last season. McCall said he has gone on to continue his post-secondary education.

McCall isn’t expecting anyone to walk into the dressing room knowing they have a spot on the team, though.

“There’s going to be a lot of position battles, there’s going to be a lot of depth at camp, and I’m really expecting a lot of big things out of the group.”

Camp opens on September 2nd.