BRANDON- The barn hangs with an anticipating silence that the promise of a new season brings , the hangover effect of a spectacular Memorial Cup still resonates in the City, and a young group of hopefuls are prepared to put their stamp on a new era of Wheat Kings hockey.

Gone are names like Calvert, Robak and Hamonic off to don the jerseys of their professional squads. In are a talented group of youngsters lacing up the skates hoping to rekindle former glory of players gone, hoping to usher in a new phase in the storied clubs existence.

Yes it is time once again time for the Wheat Kings to kickoff training camp. The rookies will hit the ice tomorrow at Westman Place with the veterans scheduled to join them on Friday. This years club will be a team in transition following an extended season due to the 2010 Mastercard Memorial Cup.

Added are the likes of UND standout David Toews, Danish Winger Mark Mieritz and interim assistant coach Mike Vandenberghe. Some of the big exits are the aforementioned Calvert, Fehr, Robak, Lewadniuk and Hamonic with the probable loss of Schenn and possibly Glennie in the mix as well. All in all it makes for a team looking to have productivity stepped up from players like Stone, Walker and Ferland with openings on the defense where a rookie may be able to play their way into a spot with the club. As for the goaltending status they may be looking to the future as opposed to the present, as both Hayes and DeSerres are heading into overage year with rookie Liston waiting in the wings to prove his place is in the WHL.

No matter how you look at it with the 2010-11 version of the Wheat Kings they will be a team in transition, but never put it past the coaching team of the club to have a winner on the ice any given night. The first home pre-season game happens September 11th at Westman Place with the home opener slated for September 24th against the Regina Pats. (Shaun Cameron- itvbrandon.com)