broncos 2014

Swift Current Broncos training camp will get into full swing today after two days of rookie orientation this week, and one of first orders of business will be fitness testing.

"Look for kids that have improved," said Coach and GM Mark Lamb. "We had end of the year meetings, and we talked about fitness, and we really need to see some improvement and care, and hard work over the summer, and they know that."

Lamb adds the fitness testing will be a new experience for the rookies and younger players at camp, but for the older players, it could be a make or break situation.

"The guys that were here last year that didn't play and went through training camp, the fitness test is very important," he added. "That's the start of training camp. If you don't test good, it doesn't look good for the player. It's all about committment, if you want to be a hockey player and you want to play on a winner, you have to dedicate yourself. Summer is a time to relax, have fun and enjoy your family, but if you're a hockey player, you have to put the workout program in there and put all the other things with it."

Most of the players are expected to report today, with the rookies and 2014 Bantam Draft class arriving on Monday. Andreas Schumacher, one of the Broncos' two import draft picks this year, arrived at camp earlier this week, and Lamb says so far, he's looking good.

"He's bigger than I thought he was, so we're very excited to see what he can do in training camp," he said, adding that it looks like Maxim Letunov, their first-round Import Draft selection, will not report to camp and will return to the USHL this season.

Julius Honka, the first-round selection for the Dallas Stars in June's NHL Entry Draft, will be attending that team's camp, but Lamb says they are still expecting him to be here this season.

"We're expecting him to be here, and I know Dallas would like him to be here also," he said. "It's a great organization, they don't like to rush their players, and they want to let him develop. Julius is a special player, as everybody has seen last year, and he's working hard this summer and trying to go into Dallas and make the team."

There are also few questions surrounding the goaltender spot with Eetu Laurikainen graduating at the end of last season. Lamb says he feels Landon Bow is ready to fill that void, adding there were times where he thought Landon should have played more games last season.

"Eetu did a lot for this organization and for this hockey club, and I think Landon, sitting back in the games he didn't play and watching Eetu work, learned a lot from Eetu about how he handled himself as a number one, and Landon Bow is ready for that," he added.

Lamb adds he believes that this will be the most competitive camp in his years with the Broncos, with a lot of good players and depth in the club and an overage situation that they need to figure out.

"There's players that can play in this league that might not be able to play on our team," he said. "We've talked to the scouts and we want their input, because it's going to be a tough training camp for a lot of players."

The Broncos will have scrimmages Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4:00pm and 6:00pm each day at the Credit Union iplex, and the Black and White Intrasquad game will be Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm, with the admission proceeds supporting Swift Current's new Youth Emergency Shelter.

The first pre-season game will be the rookie game Tuesday in Moose Jaw.