The Chatham Maroons are holding their first tryout of the year tonight.
The organization is expecting around 80 skaters and about a dozen goaltenders to show up at the Thames Campus Arena for Day 1 of the team's prospects camp.
Maroons head coach Tyler Roeszler says about a third of the players who show up will be invited to a second tryout during the team's main camp in August.
"Focusing on competing hard and playing to their strengths as a player are two of the things I'm looking for," says Roeszler. "Ultimately there isn't a lot of chemistry because the kids just aren't used to playing with each other."
As for what the Maroons needs in terms of positional players, Roeszler says they're already well-balanced, so he'll be looking for players who stand out because of their individual skill.
"We see them for two days, so ultimately this is just the first step," says Roeszler. "Some of them will come back to the main camp and that's when you'll see who can compete against the older players."
Several of the team's standout players like Connor Koviak, Teddy McGeen, and Ross Krieger all went through the prospects camp before joining the Maroons.
The tryouts will continue Thursday night.