Dauphin Kings main camp starts next Thursday at Credit Union Place. Several local players will be there and one is Ste. Rose's Reece Hopfner.
The 19-year-old has been working hard in preparation for this year's camp. He also took part in last year's camp with the team, before he was traded to Fort Frances.
"I feel ready for this and I'm really excited to get back into competitive hockey," said Hopfner. "I got more experience at the junior level so I think I'm ready to show what I can do."
"When I got traded to Fort Frances last year, I think it really helped me grow as a player and as a person to live on my own," he continued. "It was important for me to experience what it feels like to be on the ice every day and to play with older players. It was a fun year and I learned a lot."
Reece suited up in 43 regular-season games with the Lakers. He had 19 points (6G). He started last season on fire. In his first four games, he had four points.
"I think I really learned that everyone is a lot faster at the junior level," added Hopfner. "They're stronger and I have to play the body more. You need to trust your teammates and I have to always move my feet. It was all about getting better every day and I think I did that."
Hopfner has spent a lot of his summer in the gym on top of working for the City of Ste. Rose. He also played for Treaty 2/Kiniw in the Parkland Source for Sports 4 on 4 Hockey League. Reece scored one goal in the gold medal game as the team went on to win the league. He also scored three times in their semifinal win.
"I've been working hard, that's for sure. I've been running a lot and just preparing all around," he continued.
Main camp hits the ice for the first time on Friday. That's when Reece will get his first opportunity to impress Doug Hedley and the crew as he looks to lock up a spot on a team that's just down the road from his hometown.
"I think I'm a 200-foot player. I can generate offence and I'm also really good defensively," he added.
Dauphin plays their season opener on September 20 in Swan Valley and Reece has a goal of being a part of that lineup.
"It would mean a lot to me and my family as well," he concluded. "It would be totally surreal to represent my community as a whole."