For Donovan Law, this year's Cariboo Cougars training camp was a lot less stressful than it was last year when he was just trying to make the team.
The 16-year-old has a full season of play in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League in his arsenal now and didn't have to worry about making an impression on general manager Trevor Sprague, head coach Bryan MacLean and the rest of the Cats' staff.
"It's a lot more comforting that's for sure, knowing that you're on the team," said Law. "You've still got to work hard and you want to try to be more of a leader than last year."
In 34 games with the Cougars as a rookie, Law had seven goals, 19 assists and 57 penalty minutes. Law's experience last season allowed him to get in one exhibition game with the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings before he was released back to the Cougars.
"It showed me where I have to get to be at the next level and what it's going to be like here for me," said Law.
MacLean said it's a stressful time of year for coaches, as well as the players, as they try to make the right decisions when building their teams.
"It's nice when you give good news, but you end up worrying about the bad news more than the good," said MacLean. "We've put a lot of thought into the process and we're happy with the results that we've seen. For the guys that move on it just gets harder from here, it's going to be more competitive."
The Cougars dropped from 45 to 28 players after last weekend's intra-squad games and they need to get down to 20 by the time the regular season begins.
"We've got a good idea what the core of our team's going to be," said MacLean. "It's those last few spots you get some sleepless nights over trying to make sure you make the right choice. When we go down to a smaller number it gets harder, but that's when the fun starts."
In addition to Law, other forwards who appear as locks for the Cougars are Lien Miller-Jeannotte and Brogan O'Brien. The latter signed with the Spruce Kings this week after an impressive training camp with the BCHL club. On the blueline Bryan Allbee and Scott Cullen are back from last season, while Jeremy Matte will start the season as the main goaltender after backing up Nathan Warren last year.
Allbee returned to the Cougars this week after attending training camp with the Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice, while Jesse Roach - younger brother of former Cougar and Los Angeles Kings prospect Alex Roach - has returned from a tryout with the Vancouver Giants.
Fans of the Cougars will need a roster to keep track of the players on the team this year as the turnover from last year's squad is high, which is a good thing.
"Replacing kids is good at this level, moving guys on is what we're all about," said MacLean.
The Cougars played their first exhibition game in West Kelowna on Friday night against South Delta and won 5-2. Today, the Cougars face the Burnaby Winter Club and the Okanagan Hockey Academy. Their final game is Sunday against Pursuit of Excellence.
