Just over 40 players took part in the Nanaimo Buccaneers main training camp Aug. 20-22. The Bucs VIJHL regular season begins on Sept. 9. (Dan Marshall/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Ice Time

Nanaimo Buccaneers training camp signals return to junior hockey

Aug 23, 2021 | 4:12 PM

NANAIMO — The VIJHL season is fast approaching for the Nanaimo Buccaneers.

The team held their annual pre-season training camp at the Nanaimo Ice Centre between Aug. 20 and 22. A total of 42 players took to the ice, vying for a spot on this year’s team.

New head coach Paul Pipke said his team will be young and local.

“I expect the make up of the team to be predominantly Vancouver Island. We’ve got to give local players a place to play and develop. I believe we can do some great things for local kids and push them to the next level.”

The Bucs will feature a roster of largely 16 to 18-year-olds which will likely give Nanaimo one of the youngest rosters in the VIJHL.

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The organization is placing a premium on player development knowing many of the players have aspirations to move up to Junior A or other levels of hockey.

Although there are several returning players at each position Pipke stressed everyone comes in with a blank slate.

“I haven’t checked anybody’s stats from last year. I’m not a coach who’s giving out spots I expect things to be earned.”

Pipke himself is relatively knew to the program after taking the coaching role from Matt Hughes in the middle of the summer.

He’ll work closely with Carl Ollech who is the club’s owner and general manager.

“Matt and I worked together at the start looking at players. But he’s moved on and I’m happy for him. Carl has allowed me to voice my opinion and share things and I think we’ve put an excellent group together. There’s potential for us to do some really good things this year.”

Nanaimo will have two exhibition games to prepare for the upcoming season.

The Buccaneers will host the newest VIJHL franchise, Lake Cowichan Kraken on Sept. 2 and travel to Lake Cowichan for a return game on Sept. 3.

The regular season opens on Sept. 9 with a home date with the Saanich Predators at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

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