By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

final roster spots available

Blackfalds Bulldogs hosting first development camp this weekend

Jun 24, 2021 | 1:26 PM

The Blackfalds Bulldogs will hold an on-ice event for the first time this weekend.

The team’s first development camp runs Friday through Sunday at the Penhold Multiplex, with nearly 70 players attending. It isn’t open to the public, however.

Owner, President and Head Coach Doug Quinn says the excitement to finally hold a team function ahead of their inaugural season is palpable.

“We’re going to have some players that will step up and impress even more, while others may take a step backwards,” says Quinn. “Plus, we’re inviting a lot of unsigned kids we feel have an opportunity to play with us this year or next.”

Camp will consist of a practice on Friday, and scrimmages Saturday and Sunday, with dry-land training as well.

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“We’ve spent a lot of time, Al Parada (Director of Operations), Adam West (Assistant GM) and I, watching a lot of video. They’ve vetted a lot of the players first, and once they recommend someone, I’ll watch the video and we’ve gone from there. I’m personally really excited to see the players on the ice tomorrow,” says Quinn, noting a couple of signed players from the U.S. won’t make it up due to quarantine rules.

“We have 22 guys signed, but there’s still opportunity for kids that come to our camp to step up and potentially squeeze into the group we’re going to start the season with.”

Following camp, it’s all about finalizing season ticket packages, organizing billet families, and then preparing to hit the ice.

Of course, the Eagle Builders Centre still needs finishing, but that is on schedule for mid-September.

Up next is the AJHL Prospects Showcase from July 23-25 in Edmonton, that being an opportunity for GMs, coaches and scouts to identify and evaluate prospects. Training camps then begin August 20, with exhibition play commencing August 27.

The 2021-2022 AJHL regular season schedule is also due out next month, with the league’s 58th opening night currently slated for September 17.

The Bulldogs will then participate in the 15^th annual AJHL Showcase scheduled for September 30 to October 3 in Brooks. At the showcase, each team plays two of its 60 regular season games.

“Fans should be very excited. The business side of our operations has come together, the rink is on schedule to be done, all the work we’ve done behind the scenes as far as the marketing, the social media, and sponsorships has all been going great, and support from the community has been over the top,” Quinn shares.

“We’ve really done our homework in identifying players, so it will be very competitive this weekend. People are ready to get back to the rink and be entertained and we’re definitely going to put on a show.”