By Dan Marshall

VIJHL Buccaneers expecting 60 plus at weekend spring camp

May 26, 2017 | 1:54 PM

NANAIMO — Hopefuls for the Buccaneers Junior B hockey team will have no problem getting out of the heat this weekend.
 
More than 60 players vying to make Nanaimo’s VIJHL club will be spending three days practicing and scrimmaging inside the Nanaimo Ice Centre. 
 
New coach Curtis Toneff is hoping to put his stamp on the team.
 
It’s his first head coaching job after spending the past two seasons as an assistant with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters.
 
“I’m looking to establish a presence with these young guys.  Me being a young guy they have to respect you, but at the same time they have to have some fun out there because it is May and it’s not quite main camp yet,” said Toneff. 
 
With the recent success of the Buccaneers program there will be a number of roster spots open this year.
 
Toneff says the actual number is still somewhat up in the air with some Bucs players looking to make WHL or BCHL rosters this fall.
 
“We’re looking for 10-12 and then even more pending a couple of these kids making that jump. I think a kid coming into a spring camp hears that number and they get pretty excited,” Toneff said.
 
Many of the players at spring camp will be from Nanaimo or Vancouver Island but some have come from as far as Whistler, Nakusp, and Williams Lake.
 
If Toneff recognizes some standout players at camp he says the Buccaneers could make some player commitment announcements as soon as next week.
 
The on ice sessions run Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 
The complete schedule is online at buccaneers.vijhl.com.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77