“It’s a new year and a new group of players,” says Knights head coach Dean McAmmond, as the team heads into its 10th anniversary in Armstrong. “We’ll have a different look. A different structure.”
McAmmond expects the Knights to be fairly young.
The former NHLer, who coached minor hockey for six years and took over the Knights midway through last season, will lean on veterans such as Cole Haberlack, 20, expected to anchor the defence and possibly Ethan Matchim, 17. Matchim is trying to earn a junior A spot.
“He will be a big part of our defensive structure,” says McAmmond. “Up front we have Kevin-Thomas Walters who had a pretty good year last year as a rookie. He is working hard over the summer. If he doesn’t land in junior A he will come back. We will get a few of our character guys back in the lineup.”
A rookie to watch, if he doesn’t make the jump to junior A, is Jocob Boden, 16.
“I have coached him in the past. I liked that he’s very dedicated. He works quite hard,” says McAmmond.
After falling short of making the playoffs, with 16 wins and 32 points, McAmmond wants to change that. Training camp will be Aug.29-31 in Vernon.
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