KAMSACK — The anticipation and excitement for the upcoming hockey season were palpable during the first pre-season hockey practice at the Broda Sportsplex on the Sept. 28. A notable change this year is the earlier start of practices, offering more preparation time compared to the previous season.
Michelle Guillet, reflecting on the progress made compared to the previous year, conveyed a positive outlook for the team's performance. They acknowledged that while there were challenges last season due to a delayed start, this season's earlier commencement and a greater number of skilled players are promising factors for the team's success.
“This is crazy awesome like all of them except for one is just kind of learning but yeah, I think they're in good shape to have fun this year because it's hard to play hockey when you don’t know how to skate.”
“We've been waiting months for this and it's exciting to have the ice earlier, much earlier than last year, so we can get more practice time.”
Looking ahead to future plans for the team, Guillet mentioned a planned Jamboree in December, showcasing the team's commitment to engaging with the community and participating in various events throughout the season. However, specific details and arrangements are still in the early stages of development.
“We are planning the U7 team will have a Jamboree in December. I still haven't had a chance to talk to the manager about that. And then I'm sure we'll go to different communities for games and Jamborees as well but we just just started out figuring things out and getting more information as the season goes on.”
The Broda Sportsplex will also be hosting a much-anticipated SJHL matchup with the Yorkton Terriers and the Melfort Mustangs on the 28th of October.
Another important note to the Kamsack Minor Hockey community is that a newly acquired scoreboard for the arena was made possible through collaboration with local businesses. The Kamsack Minor Hockey Board co-ordinated sponsorship efforts, successfully securing support from four businesses—Sas Kam Sportsman, Affinity Credit Union, Richardson Pioneer, and Kam Crete—whose logos are prominently displayed on the scoreboard.
The acquisition of the new scoreboard, valued at just under $20,000, marks a significant improvement over the outdated predecessor, underscoring the dedication of the Kamsack Minor Hockey community to enhance the overall experience for players and spectators alike. The scoreboard was installed in June by the Town of Kamsack, symbolizing a positive step forward for the local hockey community.
