Mustangs attract 50-plus prospects

‘Overwhelming’ interest in spring camp encourages South Shore U18

After back-to-back seasons at the bottom of the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League standings, the South Shore Mustangs are casting a wide net as they search for prospective players.

More than 50 prospects are expected at the team’s spring identification camp June 4 and 5 at the Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool.

“Surprisingly, the interest in camp already has been very overwhelming,” Mustangs coach and general manager Ian Haverstock said in early May, a month before camp.

“We’re at almost 50 kids signed up right now, which is almost unheard of for the Mustangs’ program. I’m looking forward to that.”

While some of those coming to South Shore’s camp are players released from U18 major teams in Halifax Regional Municipality, there’s an upswing in prospects from the Mustangs’ designated geographical zone, which essentially runs from Hubbards to Yarmouth.

“There’s a lot (of interest) from Yarmouth way this year, which is good, because I know sometimes the travel is a deterrent for some of those families,” Haverstock said. “As you can understand, it’s a lot, the commute back and forth.”

The Mustangs’ home arena is the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater. But the LCLC isn’t available for this year’s spring camp, because of renovations, so the evaluation sessions have been moved down the road to Liverpool,

Haverstock reported.

South Shore hopes the road back to contention in the Nova Scotia U18 major league begins with a competitive camp. The numbers are greater this year because of more commitments not only from U15 major graduates, but also players from high school, U16 AAA and U15 AA.

Haverstock said it has traditionally been difficult for the Mustangs to entice high school players in the South Shore and Southwest regions to consider U18 major, especially after they were cut during their first U18 tryout.

“A couple of the city teams, they’ve found some players from the high school league and they’ve gone on to have great U18 careers and have moved on to the junior ranks,” said the Timberlea resident. “It’s good to see us finally get some of those kids back to tryouts. It helps with the numbers, it helps the competition.”

The Mustangs are losing seven players through graduation and possibly a few others who might play high school or make an early jump to junior.

The graduates are goaltender

Kegan Greencorn, defencemen Kyle Hopkins and Camden Mckenzie, and forwards Will Cook, Roman Joseph, Nik Xidos and Gage Zwicker. Cook, a third-year Mustang, was the team’s captain.

Mckenzie, who joined the Mustangs this season from Dartmouth Steele Subaru, was named to the league’s second all-star team. He led South Shore with 21 points, including 15 assists, in 34 games.

“Just a fantastic pickup for us and a fantastic kid,” Haverstock said of Mckenzie. “A great hockey player. He brought some experience, being drafted to junior A by Pictou (County Weeks Crushers). Cam really helped with our dressing room this year and helped mentor the younger kids.”

Hopkins rejoined the Mustangs in December after beginning the season with the junior A South Shore Lumberjacks.

“We were a much different team when we got Kyle back,” Haverstock said. “It was a real boost for our group. It was a pleasure to have him finish out the year with us.”

Greencorn in net and Xidos

and Joseph up front each played just one season with South Shore after spending the previous two years with metro U16 AAA teams.

“It’s good to see the U16 league is working,” Haverstock said. “A lot of guys are going there for a year or two to develop and then making the jump to our level.”

In the process, they’re also gaining attention from junior teams. Xidos, for example, was called up to the Lumberjacks for five Maritime Hockey League games this season.

Mustangs forward Elijah Leinwand, who has another year of U18 eligibility, is a draft pick of the MHL’S Miramichi Timberwolves.

South Shore rookie forwards Sam Hope and Jared Pitman, both from Yarmouth County, are considered prospects for both the QMJHL and MHL drafts this July.

“It’s an exciting time for those guys,” Haverstock said. “They worked hard this year. Hopefully, we hear a few of our kids called (in drafts).”

CHANGING THE COURSE

After winning the pennant in the 2019-20 season, South Shore has finished last in the eight-team league in two consecutive years. The Mustangs posted a 5-26-3 record in the 2021-22 regular season and lost 3-1 to the eventual provincial champion Halifax Mcdonald’s in their best-of-five quarter-final.

The Mustangs hope the widespread interest in this spring’s camp can translate into greater success on the ice next season.

“We’ve got 20 open spots,” Haverstock said. “There’s no promises or guarantees to anyone at this point, after finishing in the eighth spot again. We’re looking forward to picking 20 kids that can play at this level. It’ll all start at ID camp.”

Haverstock believes the camp commitments from high school, AA and AAA players not only strengthen the tryout process, but most significantly signal a turnaround for the 2022-23 season.

“It’s very encouraging to see that,” he said. “I think it just goes to show that we’re on the right track to getting back to being, hopefully, a contending team every year. Two years ago, when I took this over, we had three returning players. My first tryouts, we had 24 kids signed up and eight of them were goalies. It didn’t leave me with a whole lot. It was tough.

“Obviously, with COVID the last two years, it doesn’t make things easy. Hopefully, we’re in for a normal tryout process and a normal year.”

Haverstock and his assistant coaches, Kegin Watt and Shawn Walsh, are all back on board for next season. Watt is also a scout with the junior A Yarmouth Mariners.