Thunderbirds hold camp as new season approaches

The 2016-17 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season opens in less than three weeks and the Soo Thunderbirds continue preparations.

The team is in the midst of its annual tryout camp, being held at the John Rhodes Community Centre this weekend.

The three-day camp opened with a scrimmage on Friday before the team held a practice and scrimmage on Saturday.

With 32 players in the camp and some roster spots for the upcoming season still available, Thunderbirds General Manager/Coach Jordan Smith said Saturday night that he was happy with what he saw.

“The local young players and some of the players that we’ve brought in are highly skilled,” Smith said. “We should be a very fast team. I really liked the speed out there as well as the compete level.”

Included among the players in camp are veteran blueliner Jake Behse, sophomore goaltender Brandon Gordon and forwards Darian Pilin, Drake Pilon, Ryan Mulligan, Matt Caruso and Mark Tassone.

The camp continues with a final scrimmage on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m.