Over the Christmas break, coaches and executives with the Orillia Mister Transmission Kings met with returning and potential players to outline expectations for the upcoming Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B season.
More than 50 players expressed interest in tryouts and appear eager to get started on the floor and in the gym in late January.
Returning coach Jim Meredith shared his excitement with the group and noted the talented young men that will be joining a core group of veterans will "make us an even more competitive team than we were last season."
The Kings inked seven returning players including veterans Quinton Greenfield, Jack Marwick, Jesse Ashkewe, Hayden Goldthorp, Ashton Twyman, Colsen Maracle and Ty Ross.
Meredith says he is looking forward to a "very competitive" camp.
The meeting room was filled with players from Orilla, Barrie, Midland and Huntsville. The Kings' general managers, Rob Blasdell and Scott Balkwill, have their eyes on key players from all over Zone 4 for this years edition of the Kings and have circled the names of a number of players to keep their eyes on that are currently playing U15 and U17 around the region.
'There is a really talented group of U17 players in Huntsville and several players in the Orillia organization that have our attention," said Balkwill.
"There has been a very talented group of U17 players that have gone overage in our zone that could make for some interesting developments at camp and over the course of the summer," noted Balkwill. "We look forward to seeing them play this season and see how they all mature as players."
In an effort to develop young local players and allow them a place to play and hone their skills, the Kings executive has worked with Orillia Minor Lacrosse to enter a U22 team this season. The goal is to use that team as a place to draw players into the Kings' lineup on a regular basis.
U22 Head Coach Mike Montgomery and Meredith will work together to make sure both teams are running the same systems, officials explained.
The two bench bosses already have a "great working relationship" as Montgomery played for Meredith as a junior.
