By Jasmine Franklin
The opportunity to be cheered on by fans, clash sticks and play on a re-vamped junior B, Ponoka Stampeders hockey team is here with tryouts Sept.12 to 13.
Randy Rook, new head coach and general manager, couldn’t be more excited for this season. With the addition of new events, it’s looking to be a transformed team.
“It’s going to be a whole new team,” Rook said. “Let’s try to build something here.”
Players from all parts of the province are coming into town for this year’s tryout camp at the Ponoka arena. Rook said this year’s team and camp will be competitive and drastically different then past years.
“This is fast-paced hockey this year.”
The camp kicks off on Saturday with registration at 7:30 a.m., followed by a meeting, on and off-ice activities, and scrimmages to end the day at 5:15 p.m. Sunday will begin at 8 a.m. and include a goaltender session, then end with games around 5:30 p.m.
A new addition to this year’s season will be “Stampeder for a Game,” in which atom, novice, or initiation level players can write in to Rook explaining why they love hockey, and how a relative has helped along their hockey career. Two applicants will be chosen from each home game where they will take on the roles of water boy, collecting pucks, and being present in the dressing room before and after each game. Each winner also receives four tickets to each game.
The Ponoka Stampeders are also looking for anthem singers, anyone interested is asked to email Rook at rrook@randyrook.com
For detailed, and additional information on the camp schedules, or the team, visit www.ponokastampeders.com.