Final auditions

Major midget squads in Moncton this weekend for jamboree before finalizing their rosters

Teenage hockey players will be looking to earn spots and carve out a role for themselves on Prince Edward Island’s two major midget hockey teams this weekend in Moncton.

The New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League is hosting a jamboree beginning today. The Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild and rebranded Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights will play each of the four New Brunswick teams during the two-day event. Each game will consist of three 15-minute, stopped-time periods.

“We have a lot of new bodies and a lot of young guys competing for spots,” Knights’ head coach Luke Beck said Friday.

“We’re excited to see how they can raise their level against their peers across P.E.I. and New Brunswick over the weekend and see who really wants to step up and earn a spot to be a part of our program this winter.”

The Knights and Wild both have a handful of decisions to be made before finalizing their rosters after this weekend’s action.

Wild bench boss Kyle Dunn said it has about half of its 15 potential returnees back, leaving opportunities for others to crack the roster.

“We’re going to have a new look this year with a bunch of new faces,” he said. “We’re giving those kids that are right there every opportunity to go out and earn a spot.”

While he has been pleased with the competition level of training camp, Dunn anticipates the tempo and intensity to ratchet up a notch or two this weekend.

The Knights started camp about 10 days ago and Beck said he it has been fun working with the new coaching staff of Jason (Frenchie) MacDonald, Ben MacDonald and Parker Ronahan.

“They have brought a lot of great energy to camp,” he said.

The Knights and Wild will begin the season playing against each other Friday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. at MacLauchlan Arena. Kensington’s first home game is Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Saint John at Credit Union Centre.