DIDSBURY - Although hockey season is several months away, the Mountainview Colts junior B team is busy preparing for next season.
The Colts coaching staff are evaluating and recruiting players and talking to returning players.
The Colts organization also held its annual general meeting on May 30 in Didsbury. Although Keith Klinck returns as president of the board of directors, there are several new directors.
"We had elections and added some new board members," said head coach Michael Galye. "Randy Thomas took over as vice-president. Fran Murphy took over as secretary. Dave Boyle remains as treasurer. Three new board members are Mike Van Tetering, Dan Visser and Danny Miller."
The board also talked about the stepping down of last year's head coach Gord Olsen with Galye taking over as head coach. Ryan Miller will return as assistant coach. Former Colts player Dennis Lawrence will step in and help out as another assistant coach.
Galye said he's excited about the upcoming year although he expects the team will be younger than recent years after a number of players aged out.
"We've been talking with our vets and it looks like most are coming back," said Galye. "Some of them will be going to school. It looks like there will definitely be some changes. We'll likely have a young team this year, with Cole Sutherland and all the other guys graduating.
"I think we'll be a younger squad. It'll be a bit of a rebuild. But you never know. We don't know what we'll get from Olds College. We have players calling coming out of the woodwork.
"There's lots of interest out there. We've had a pretty successful program over the last five years or so. Kids want to be with a winning team."
Last year, the Colts lost in Game 7 of the division final to Red Deer after finishing first in the regular season. The previous year the team was crowned Heritage League champions after beating Cochrane in the league final.
Galye credits much of the team's recent success with having veteran players that had been with the team for a number of years.
The team will be having a golf fundraiser on June 10 at the Didsbury Golf Course. Members of the public are welcome to come out and play with some of the players, alumni, coaching staff and board members and support the team.
Anyone interested in golfing can contact Christine at 403-875-1171.
"It's a fun day," said Galye. "We have a dinner afterward and some prizes. We've also got the Ride for Dad there doing a barbecue. It's just a fun day."
The team will be having its conditioning camp from Aug. 21 to 30 in the Carstairs Arena. The main camp will be the September long weekend. The location is yet to be determined but will either be in Carstairs or Didsbury if the ice is in, said Galye.
"We had elections and added some new board members."Coach Michael Galye
