With approximately 35 players turning out to attend training camp at the Newport and District Arena this month, the Avon River Rats management is hopeful they will be able to build upon last year’s momentum and ice a highly competitive team.
Last season, the River Rats experienced a mid-season turn-around before eventually losing in the opening round of playoffs.
The Nova Scotia Junior C Hockey League recently released the 2014-15 schedule, and the team’s management are pleased.
The Rats will play a total of 28 games, 14 home and 14 away.
The schedule will require the River Rats to play their first three home games of the season in Brooklyn, with the regular season opener coming up Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. against the Clare Lions.
The next two games in Brooklyn will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5, against the Truro Fundy MU Rhino Renovations, and Sunday, Oct. 12, against the Amherst Colts.
The only real quirk in the River Rats schedule this season is the four games that are scheduled with the Colts as they will all be played in the month of October. The Rats will host the Colts in Windsor at the Hants Exhibition Arena on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.
Besides the one game in September and the eight in October, they will play eight more in November and six in December, with their last game prior to the Christmas break taking place Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. in Windsor. This game will be against Barrington.
The River Rats will return in January to conclude their regular season with a slate of five games, including three against Barrington: Jan. 11, Jan. 15 and Jan. 16.
The Jan. 11 game is a Sunday game at home before they travel to Barrington for back-to-back weekend games.
The Rats will play their 28th and final regular season game at home Sunday, Jan. 18 against the Spryfield Silver and Black Attack.
Grant Veinot will return as the head coach and Darrell Lyttle, the team’s general manager, has forged a working relationship with Valley Maple Leafs executive for players.
