Wilderness Hosts Prospects in Five-Day Tryout
Practice for 2024-25 season begins September 2
CLOQUET, Minn.- With the 2024-25 NAHL season looming, the Minnesota Wilderness hosted 160 prospects this week as part of the team’s Main Camp.
“We’re really excited,” says Dave Boitz, the President of Operations for the Wilderness. “It’s fun to get everybody together and have 160 kids here for tryouts.”
Boitz was among several front office members evaluating players looking to earn a spot on this year’s roster. “We’re just looking for guys that have the right attitude, that have the right work ethic. There’s always a surprise every year. So, we’re kind of looking for that surprise kid.”
“To be honest, it’s all character based for me,” says Colten St. Clair, who’s entering his second year as head coach of the Wilderness. “The attitude, how you respect each other inside the rink, outside the rink with the community, how hard you compete in general. The habits that the guys play with and the little things that translate to the next level are what we’re looking for.”
St. Clair and the front office has already signed multiple players expected to make immediate contributions. That includes Cloquet-Esko-Carlton’s Karson Young and Hermantown’s River Freeman.
“Our staff’s done a really good job, evaluating and bringing in kids and just scouting throughout the whole year,” says St. Clair “The more kids that you have, obviously, it does make it tougher, but they’re good problems to have.”
Another good problem is the addition of the Wilderness NA3HL team, which will play its home games at the Hippodrome in Eveleth.
“We’re so excited. Eveleth is so excited,” said Boitz, who was elevated to president of operations after the 3HL team was added to the Wilderness franchise. “They’ve been great to work with, and we’re excited about that team as well.”
With the main camp now over, the real work begins for St. Clair and his players.
“Our first practice is going to be September 2. From that point on, I think it’s going to be a little bit more clear (sic) of what we’re going to have as far as player-wise and what kind of identity we’re really going to have,” St. Clair predicted. “Honestly, after this weekend, in no time, the players are showing up, so we’ve got to be focused, we’ve got to be sharp. I’m really excited to see what this group can do.”
The Wilderness will open their regular season September 13 against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the Northwoods Credit Union arena.
