The NAHL’s Central Division was filled with one of the more impressive rookie classes in league history during the 2016-17 season. Paul Cotter of the Brookings Blizzard, a ’99 birthyear, led all NAHL rookies with 60 points. Down the road in the South Dakota, Aberdeen’s Carson Dimoff – also a ’99, racked up 51 points followed by nine in 12 playoff games, helping the Wings make a Cinderella run to the Robertson Cup Tournament. Bismarck’s Matt Barry, Minot’s Alex Adams, and the Bruins’ own Jon Richards all enjoyed sensational rookie seasons, paving the way for the future stars of the 2000s to make their mark on the North American Hockey League.
The camps will be directed by new head coach Steve Howard, who was just hired as the third head coach in Bruins history this April.
“We are excited to bring young players to Austin and show them our facilities,” said Howard. “These camps are a good introduction to Junior hockey and this will give them all a good view of what it’s like in the NAHL.”
“The checking camp is a great way to introduce young players to checking before their season starts,” he said. “We want to help kids learn the right way to receive a hit and give one.”
Howard has playing experience at the professional level and was the 2014 NA3HL coach of the year with the Flint Junior Generals. He’s spent the last three seasons as an Assistant with the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks and also worked in the Minnesota Advancement Program (MAP).
New Bruins associate head coach Al Rooney will oversee the goalie camp, which will be the first of the three sessions. Rooney joins the Bruins after spending the 2016-17 season as an assistant with the Robertson Cup Champion Lone Star Brahmas. Rooney was a head coach for the Jr. Brahmas of the NA3HL and played goalie professionally from 1996-2004, notably in the Central Hockey League and Western Professional Hockey League.
“This is going to be a great opportunity to look at some future prospects and a chance for young goaltenders to learn some of the things they need to prepare for to play at the Junior level,” said Rooney.
Bruins Futures Camp will feature three July sessions at Riverside Arena in Austin:
Goalie Camp (’02, ’03, ’04): July 14th-16th
Futures Camp (’02, ’03): July 21st-23rd
Checking & Futures Camp (’03, ’04): July 28th-30th
Please click the above links for camp details, rates, and to register.
