MOUNT WILLIAM – The Pictou County Crushers have made some roster cuts and still have a couple of spots to sort out before their Sept. 13 season-opener against the Valley Wildcats.
“Some guys will make it easy for us, some guys will make it tougher on us,” said head coach Doug Doull.
Notes from the Crushers this week (so far):
• The Crushers have decided on two goaltenders (returnee Greg Normore and 20-year-old Sean Julian). Their goaltending wasn’t as consistent as they may have liked last season, so Normore and Julian are going to have to keep their team in games.
• 20-year-old Barrett Dachyshyn, who spent three seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads, joined the team Tuesday and is expected to boost the club’s depth at centre.
“We’re obviously excited to have him,” said general manager/assistant coach Chad McDavid.
“We have five guys who can play the middle.”
• Pictou County got Jaden Mason back this week. The Stellarton native was a late cut of the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
• Aleck Forcier and Harry Sanders are two defenceman who are expected to be heavy contributors on the back end. Aiden Hickey and Michael Fradette are the only two returning defenceman.
“We expect those two to be good – solid,” said Doull of Hickey and Fradette, before adding the defensive unit as a group provides some nice balance.
• Doull was asked who has most surprised him the most so far in camp, and he mentioned Cam Scott (three goals in two pre-season games) and Evan Gallant (two goals). Gallant was acquired from the St. Stephen Aces during the off-season.
• As had been expected, jersey #47, worn for three seasons by all-time Crushers points’ leader Michael Dill (81G, 122A), will be unavailable for the coming season.
