Article contentFlanagan, who will be joined on the bench by new assistants Thomas Durant and Jesse MacLean, said the veterans’ presence will be key in the turnaround.Article content“Every (20-year-old player) brings something different to the table,” Mullett said. “They’re excited to come and they can’t wait to get going.”Article contentArticle contentDraftArticle contentThe Wildcats’ brass is learning how difficult the junior A draft is.Article content“It’s one of the toughest leagues to draft in, in my opinion,” Mullett said.Article content“You have to really do your homework and your due diligence. I think we (have) the right people around us that allowed us to do that.”Article contentArmed with the first-, third- and fifth-overall picks, Valley selected Ethan Jones, Duncan Anderson and Parker Banks, respectively.Article content The Valley Wildcats selected East Coast Blizzard centre Ethan Jones first overall at the Maritime Junior Hockey League draft June 14 in Grand Falls, N.B.Nathan Edwards Photo by Nathan EdwardsArticle contentJones is considering playing prep school hockey at Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick while Anderson and Banks are attending Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League camps with Halifax and Sherbrooke, Que., respectively.Article contentArticle contentIf Jones or Banks, both Newfoundland forwards, wanted to play in Berwick this year, the team would need to get Hockey Canada approval for the 16-year-old players to play outside the province. Anderson doesn’t have that restriction as an Antigonish native.Article content“We’re in discussions with them to see what’s best for them and for their development,” Mullett said.Article contentDespite the possibility that none of the three play for the Wildcats this season, the GM wouldn’t change a thing.Article content“We’re still very happy with our picks. There’s no regrets at all.”Article contentMullett and Flanagan agreed the team’s prospect pool has grown significantly in the past five months.Article contentArticle contentYouthArticle contentWhile it may take some time before the team sees the full fruits of its labour at the draft table, there are some young players expected to help this year.Article contentOne of them is 18-year-old Jacob Denomme, who was named an all-star defenceman at last season’s Atlantic under-18 championship while playing for the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild. Flanagan said he’s accountable in his own zone, can make a good first pass, gets pucks on the net and doesn’t mind the physicality.Article contentArticle content“He likes to play the body hard.”Article content Defenceman Jacob Denomme is in his second season with the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Under-18 Male Hockey League. The Wild is hosting the Atlantic major under-18 male hockey championship tournament in Kensington, P.E.I., from April 2 to 6. Photo by Jason Simmonds /Guardian fileArticle contentArticle contentTraining campArticle contentA look at the schedule for the Bage Valley Wildcats junior A hockey team’s training camp at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick.Article contentAug. 24 – Player check-in/orientation.Article contentAug. 25Article content2:45 p.m. – Team Red practice.Article content3:45 p.m. – Team White practice.Article contentAug. 27Article content2:30 p.m. – Team Red practice.Article content3:30 p.m. – Team White practice.Article content7:30 p.m. – Intrasquad game.Article contentAug. 28Article content2:30 p.m. – Team Red practice.Article content3:30 p.m. – Team White practice.Article content7:30 p.m. – Intrasquad game.Article contentAug. 29Article content7 p.m. – Truro at Valley.Article contentAug. 30Article content7 p.m. – Valley at Truro.Article contentSept. 1Article content9 a.m. – Forwards practice.Article content10 a.m. – Defencemen practice.Article content4 p.m. – Full practice.Article contentSept. 2Article content8 a.m. – Goaltenders practice.Article content9 a.m. – Full practice.Article contentSept. 3Article content8 a.m. – Goaltenders practice.Article content9 a.m. – Full practice.Article contentSept. 4Article content11 a.m. – Full practice.Article contentSept. 5Article content7 p.m. – Valley at Yarmouth.Article contentSept. 6Article content7 p.m. – Yarmouth at Valley.Article content
Berwick’s Bage Valley Wildcats open junior A training camp with optimistic outlook
