ESTEVAN - Coming off their most successful season in the franchise's short history, the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears are looking to build on their success.
The Bears will open the 2024-25 Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League regular season by hosting the Tisdale Trojans at 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 and at 2 p.m. the following day.
The Bears made the SMAAAHL playoffs for the first time last season in their third full campaign. Then they lost to the Saskatoon Blazers in the opening round; the Blazers went on to win the league title for the second straight year.
Eight players are back from last year's team. Not only did they lose 10 players to graduation, including top scorer and team captain Carter Onrait and first-team all-star defenceman Thomas Ries, but their top eligible returning scorer, Jase McNichol, cracked the Weyburn Red Wings' roster as a 17-year-old. Defenceman Cameron Allard started the season with the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings.
Head coach Ryan Pilon said the Bears are pleased to see players get an opportunity.
"Obviously our goal being a development league, we want to get guys to the next level," said Pilon.
He compared it to last season when forward Kole Keen cracked the Melville Millionaires' lineup as a 17-year-old.
The club has to have its roster finalized by Sept. 28.
Despite the loss of McNichol and Allard, Pilon said there are some good returning players. Forwards Gunner Moore and Roan Burgess will "have to drive the bus" offensively for the Bears, Pilon said. Defenceman Kade McIvor has played well on the blue line. Cooper Flath, Kobe Wotta and Aidan Mohan have taken a step forward in their development.
As for the first-year Bears, Pilon said defenceman Kayson Anderson has fulfilled the high expectations facing him. Dylan Brass brings experience with a year of U18 AAA experience under his belt, and Will Nicholson has made good use of his speed.
With the higher expectations after making the playoffs for the first time, Pilon said the players are expected to come to the rink every day with the intent of winning.
"That's the mindset that we're trying to instill with these players, whether that's built from last year getting into the playoffs, or moving into this season with our returning players," said Pilon.
Not only does it need to show during games, but it needs to translate to practices and workouts.
"It's not just being happy to play triple-A, there's a job to do, and … we're trying to get these guys to the next level and we want to win now," said Pilon.
The Bears went 1-1-1-1 in the preseason. They opened by playing two games at a U18 tournament in Souris, Man., winning 8-2 over the Yellowhead Chiefs on Sept. 14 and tying the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-2 the following day. Then they lost 5-4 to the Notre Dame Hounds in a shootout on Sept. 21, and 5-2 against Manitoba's Southwest Cougars the following day. The latter two games were at Affinity Place.
Pilon was pleased with how the Bears played in the Manitoba tournament, noting the Wheat Kings in particular are a good team. He is optimistic with the upcoming season.
