Powell River Kings were on the road last weekend, playing three exhibition games against BC Hockey League (BCHL) Island Division rivals.
Kings lost 4-2 to Alberni Valley Bulldogs on August 25, followed by a 6-2 loss against Victoria Grizzlies on August 26. Kings then shutout Cowichan Valley Capitals 8-0 on August 27 before heading home.
The games gave head coach Kent Lewis an opportunity to evaluate the good, the bad and the ugly before final roster decisions are made. Most coaches use exhibition games to determine which players have the talent and will to win when it counts; winning a pre-season game is not necessarily the focus.
“I liked our new guys and how they'll fit in,” said Lewis. “We played some younger kids in the Friday game, kids who we'll look at for 2018 and down the road. We have some really good young players we're excited about and got them in as many games as possible.”
The short BCHL pre-season is not when Lewis expects to see his veteran players perform the way they will be expected to in regular season action, but the coach has expectations that core players will step up, which did not happen over the weekend.
“I didn't like the play of a lot of veterans in some of the games; we needed better,” said Lewis. “We're expecting a lot from guys who are stepping into leadership roles they haven't been in the last year or two, and they're going to have to start showing it.”
Lewis said he has always stressed to players that there is a right way of playing the game, which is what he will focus on instilling during the final two weeks of training camp. It is an approach to the game veteran players should already know about, he added.
“It's about habits, playing the right way and setting a good example,” said Lewis. “I'm expecting our veterans to set that example and I thought their play on Saturday against Victoria, in particular, was terrible.”
Lewis’ roster currently consists of 22 players; the league allows 23.
