Brett Reusch got a chance to see plenty of familiar faces on Sunday before returning back to reality and preparing for the fast-approaching Pacific Junior Hockey League regular season.
The Richmond Sockeyes head coach and the rest of the 2017-18 team received their Cyclone Taylor Cup championship rings during a special luncheon in Steveston.
Only three of those players will be back on the ice Monday night when preparation for the upcoming campaign continues.
The Sockeyes lost a whopping 19 players — meaning plenty of jobs were up for grabs when training camp opened two weeks ago. They improved to 2-1-0 in the pre-season with a 4-3 overtime win over the expansion White Rock Whalers on Saturday afternoon.
The same two teams meet again Thursday at Minoru (7 p.m.) and Richmond plans to unveil its regular season roster that will include the three returning players — Jacob Keremidschieff, Trevor Townsend and captain Matthew Brown.
Nothing but rookies were in the line-up against the Whalers.
“I wanted to get a long look to see what they could do. I am pretty pleased with some and how they have separated themselves. I most likely will have my final roster done by Monday night,” said Reusch.
“Not much coaching has been done so far. It’s been seeing what they are capable of on their own. Their attitudes on the bench and their compete level.”
Reusch is in his first full-season as head coach after taking over in early December of last year.
His and general manager Richard Petrowsky’s re-building job is quite the undertaking after the previous season that was all about loading up as Cyclone Taylor Cup hosts.
There is also scrambling to commit to players with other competing opportunities, including an additional team in the region. The Sockeyes have already signed 18 of them, leaving five roster spots to be determined in the next 48 hours.
“When you are having to replace 19 guys it’s tough,” Reusch continued. “To be honest, I have been pretty straight forward and told them tryouts really continue until the (roster deadline) on Jan. 10. Every night it’s a tryout. Either for more ice time, trying to get to that next level or just getting in there.
“I’m quite pleased the way it’s going and can’t wait for the season to start.”
Among the 18 signed are some with junior experience.
Local product Michael Araki-Young, 18, was acquired in a trade with the Delta Ice Hawks while Navan Basran, 18, spent some time with the Surrey Knights. Goaltender Jeremy Kelleway, 19, has decided to resume his junior career after playing Alberta junior “A” in 2016-17.
“He has the potential to be a game-saver for us,” added Reusch of Kelleway. “He just has that ability. “(Araki-Young) didn’t get the best of chances with Delta’s depth last year and probably needed a change of scenery like the guy we sent them (d-man Callum McDonald). But he is a local guy, who wants to be here and I think has a high ceiling.”
The Sockeyes will host the Ice Hawks in their regular season home opener Sept. 6.
