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Trail Smoke Eaters Spring Camp hits the Ice

The Trail Smoke Eaters Spring Camp hits the ice this weekend with upwards of 70 potential Smokies participating.

The Trail Smoke Eaters Spring Campstaff hits the ice this weekend with upwards of 70 potential Smokies participating.

The Spring Camp will also run concurrently with a Bantam age 4-on-4 tournament going on the small ice with over 40 players playing in what should be an exciting and entertaining competition.Eight players and one goalie will suit up for each team, in an exercise that will promote skill, speed, and finesse.

For the Spring Camp players will be divided into five teams with scrimmages going all day Friday and Saturday and finishing up on Sunday.

With the rebuilding process already begun, Deschenes is looking for impact players, who perform well in game situations.

“We’ve got a really good local presence with a lot of the Major Midget kids, obviously Beaver Valley is still playing, but there are some Castlegar players coming,” said Smoke Eater coach Nick Deschenes. “We’re definitely excited and it’s two-fold, we are identifying players for next year, but we’re also identifying for two or three years down the road as well.”

Prospects: Kienan Scott, 18, amassed 56 points in 39 games with the Summerland Steam of the KIJHL last season and will be one to watch over the weekend.

Connor Burk is another blue-chip prospect graduating from the Major Midget Vancouver North East Chiefs where he led all scorers with 28 goals 19 assists in 37 games.

The five-foot-seven, 170-pound forward also has some grit racking up 32 minutes in penalties while finishing in the top-20 in scoring.

Scrimmages go on Friday at 2:30, 3:45, 7:30, and 8:45 p.m., and 9:45 a.m., 2:15, 6, and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.