By Mike Baker

As Jr. A hockey returns to Haliburton County, Huskies head coach and general manager Ryan Ramsay has been working hard with his new charges to bring them up to speed with team systems and acclimate them to Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) play.

Players reported to S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena for team meetings and practices Aug. 20, spending the past week getting to know one another off the ice, and learn the Huskies’ systems and style of play.

Ramsay said it’s a young team again to start the season, with only a handful of returning players.

First line forward Ty Petrou will aim to build on last season, when he finished second in team scoring with 57 points in 52 games, while fellow forwards Alex Bradshaw, Adam Smeeton, Isaac Larmand and Noah Lodoen are also back. The blueline will see the return of Raine Nadeau and Ethan Wright.

The Huskies have also added 19-year-old forward Tyler Oletic and 18-year-old defenceman Carson Littlejohn, who played last season with the Aurora Tigers; 20-year-old left shot forward Deandres De Jesus, who registered 30 points in 56 games with the Caledon Admirals last year; and goaltender Corbin Votary, who appeared in 75 games with the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League over the past three seasons.

Nathan Poole, who spent three years playing with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs and was an alternate captain last season, has also signed. He registered 31 points in 144 OHL games.

“Speed and hard work have been our MO since we moved to Haliburton County. Our identity is leaning into physical play, being hard to play against. That’s how we approached recruitment this summer,” Ramsay said. “I’m excited, we’ve got some fast kids this year.

“I like what I’m seeing, the guys are meshing… we have tweaked some stuff from last year, so getting all the guys on the same page is the focus now. You can’t do that in a week, but there are encouraging signs.”

There’s been no decision over who will replace Patrick Saini as team captain, Ramsay confirmed.

“We’re waiting to see what everyone does, how players respond in the room,” he said.

After working hard to get Poole signed, Ramsay said he’s looking forward to seeing him in action once he’s fully up to speed. The 20-year-old has been dealing with an injury for most of the summer.

With OHL teams beginning their training camps over the next week or so, Ramsay said there will be more additions once players know where they stand. The Huskies still have a few overage positions to fill.