Phantoms open training camp in Miramichi
Published Monday October 13th, 2008
In the world of sports seasons change quickly. Just ask David Morrison who last weekend was coaching the James M. Hill Tommies to NBIAA provincial baseball championship.
This week he's sitting in the stands at the Lord Beaverbrook Arena, wearing the hat of head coach for the Miramichi Phantoms, watching 20 or so players on the ice who are trying to crack the line-up this season.
Training camp is now well underway for the North Shore Senior Hockey League team but Morrison doesn't know just yet what his line-up will look like or exactly how many players will return from last year.
"Things are looking positive. Not everyone here right now but that will hopefully sort itself out in the next couple of weeks," he said.
While he's hoping to see quite a few familiar faces back wearing orange and black this season, he is also upbeat about bringing in some new blood.
"I see young [Logan] McEvoy out here tonight. He played with the Timberwolves last year and there's potentially four or five open spots available. There seems to be a good competition so things look good," the coach said.
On the ice the players are taking in part in a scrimmage. Sitting in the penalty box to start things off is starting goaltender Nick Hardy.
"I nominate myself to sit on the bench," he jokes.
Morrison said if there is one area he isn't concerned about it's between the pipes.
"Nick Hardy's back and there's a battle for the backup position right now so we'll see how camp unfolds," he said.
After winning the league championship in 2007, the Phantoms are coming off an up-and-down season last year. Miramichi finished fourth out of six teams during the regular season with a record of 10-10-4 for 24 points.
They faced the rival Tracadie-Sheila Alpines in the first round of the playoffs, going down three games to none before fighting back to force an emotionally charged Game 7 in front of a sold out crowd in Tracadie-Sheila, where Miramichi was eliminated.
Last season also saw Stanson Donovan finish fifth in league scoring, on his way to winning rookie-of-the-year honours.
The six teams that comprised the league from last year will be back. In addition to the Phantoms and Alpines the league will include the Les Acadiens du Grand Caraquet, Les Pêcheurs de Lamèque-Shippagan, L'Avalanche Plaza de St-Arthur Val D'Amour and Les Cédrico de Causapscal based out of Quebec.
Rejoining the league after an absence are the Dalhousie Rangers and Les Roc de Petit-Rocher. Morrison said he's excited to see the league grow.
"Dalhousie's back, which is good. They were a powerhouse and they always have good veteran players and Petit Rocher is back in the league so it should be good for parody. With eight teams, two division of four it should be good. We hope to get some good rivalries going with Tracadie and Petit-Roche," he said.
He said fans can always look forward to seeing the Phantoms and Alpines clash.
"Tracadie always fills the rink, home and away. They're definitely our biggest rival and you know there's guys from Miramichi playing in Tracadie and vice versa so it always makes for entertaining games and we look forward to those for sure," he said.
Phantoms fans make no secret that they love the rough stuff. Morrison said toughness won't be a problem.
"We won't be short on toughness with [Jason] McNeil I see here tonight and [Nick] Foran and McEvoy's out. We won't be short in that area," he said.
One place where the Phantoms did struggle last season was putting pucks in the net with only one Miramichi player cracking the top 10 in points.
"That's probably my biggest concern going into this year and that is scoring. We have some familiar names back in Bryce Silliker and Phillip Cormier and then basically we're going to look for guys to step up and earn a spot in the top two lines and get some power play time, put some numbers up," the coach said.
The league has not released its final schedule yet but the Phantoms' home opener will be Oct. 24 at the LBA.
More Sports
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
