Trevor Sprague and the Cariboo Cougars are making their lists and checking them twice this weekend.
Sprague, the head coach of the northern B.C. major midget hockey squad and the Cats are in Kelowna this weekend for a series of exhibition games as players continue to battle for a roster spot.
They'll clash with Pacific Coast Hockey Academy of Victoria and Kelowna's Pursuit of Hockey Excellence today, followed by a pre-season game against the Burnaby Winter Club Sunday.
The Cats opened their fall camp Labour Day weekend at CN Centre where 34 hopefuls spent three days on the ice trying to make an impression and the team that will compete in the B.C. Major Midget League.
"They had a lot of ice time and we had a lot of guys away at Junior A camps," said Sprague. "It was an opportunity to see younger guys, [those born in 1999]. We've obviously let most of them go by now and once guys get back from Junior A camps there will be some hard decisions to make."
The Cougars trimmed their roster by 15 players and still have 29 remaining in the lineup. The Cougars have until Sept. 15 to choose their team
One area Sprague doesn't have to worry about is who'll be between the pipes. Former Farr Fabricating bantam tier 1 netminder Jake Sweet has moved up to the major midget ranks, and Griffen Outhouse of Williams Lake has spent the last two seasons with the Pursuit of Hockey Excellence program in Kelowna. Doren Luding of Prince George is also in the mix.
"A bright light is our goaltending," said Sprague. "They're all good talented young men."
