The Drumheller Dragons are already getting ready for the 2012/2013 season. Between Friday and Saturday the Dragons will be hosting a spring camp to get a look at the available talent and find the players needed to move the Dragons forward.
The Dragons finished in seventh place in the AJHL southern division with a record of 17-37-0-6 at the end of the regular season. They made a huge effort to earn a playoff position, but were swept in the first round by the Okotoks Oilers.
The spring camp is attracting roughly 130 players from all over, many of whom Brian Curran, the Dragons new head coach, has seen in action before.
“We’ve brought in a lot of players that we [Curran and scouts] looked at last year,” said Curran.
Curran will be looking for players that will fit a new direction for the team.
“There are some key players [in the current roster] I like quite a bit, some of them are a little smaller, but compete hard. I think we just need more size up front,” said Curran. “The teams I have don’t usually get out worked and can take the physical grind. If you have a lot of smaller players it wears on the team.”
Some of the key players Curran was referring to include Sam Lawson, Brennan Baxandall, Ryan Bloom, and Doug Jones.
Another aspect that Curran is bringing to the team is work ethic and conditioning.
“My teams are always going to be well conditioned physically and mentally. We can’t be a soft team, not in Drumheller, but that doesn’t mean fighting,” said Curran. “I want to see guys playing hard, physical, and competing for a spot at our main camp. The kids will work, or they won’t be here.”
One of Curran’s goals will be improving the offensive output of the team. The Dragons scored 162 goals during the regular season, the third lowest in the league.
“Offensively, the team didn’t have a productive season. There are some players coming to the spring camp, if we get them signed, will be a big accomplishment and get our numbers up. I want to get it back to where it was where teams were uncomfortable playing in Drumheller,”
The spring camp starts on Friday and will last throughout the weekend.
“We’re not going to have the same roster this year,” said Curran. “There are going to be some changes.”
