Players take best shot

By KURT MENSCHING, Journal Sports Writer
MARQUETTE — This will be a weekend of worried nerves for many of the 70 or so hockey players making their first steps in an attempt to become Marquette Rangers for the 2008-09 season.


Marquette’s North American Hockey League Tier II junior team is holding an open pre-draft tryout through Sunday at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.


“For the young guys, it’s going to be a little nerve-wracking,” said returning Rangers forward Garrett Ladd. “Once they get out there and just get used to the game and play their own way, they’ll be fine.”


But for Ladd and the eight other Rangers players in the camp, nothing is guaranteed. All 23 spots are still open.


“For me, it’s just more coming out and staying on the ice and making sure I’m doing the right things and getting the job done, showing some leadership.”


The Rangers will hold four camps this summer. Open camps will also be held in Stevens Point, Wis., and Detroit in June, before a final invite-only camp takes place in July.


“I remember, my rookie year, coming into this and not knowing anybody,” said returning Rangers forward Dustin Partacz, “coming out to the ice, playing with guys you don’t know, it’s just a feeling. You have to come out to play.”


First-year head coach Kenny Miller said the camp is an important time for the team.


“We’re basically looking at 80 new players in our eyes,” he said. “Obviously there’s about nine returning players here who played for the Rangers before.


“But as a new coaching staff, it’s new to us. So it’s a good opportunity for us as a staff to see all these guys play.”


Miller was named head coach in April after the Rangers declined to renew the contract of former coach Randy Enders.


Miller will emphasize finding strong goaltenders and defensemen at the camp. He hoped more defensemen would try out for the team in the future, but had 12 goalies to look at this weekend.


“We have some big holes to fill, for sure,” he said. “We think with the recruiting we did over the summer and the guys who we’re bringing to the tryouts, we should be able to fill those voids.”


He said he will be looking for the type of players who can not only play in the NAHL, but who also have a good shot at continuing their hockey careers after the NAHL.


“If we can get some guys in here that can make a difference and be good players for us and move them on to the college level, it will make this program that much stronger,” he said.


The Rangers went 23-29-3 (55 points) last season to finish in last place in the North Division, and missed the playoffs by five points.


Miller’s Alpena IceDiggers went 30-23-5 (65 points) for a third-place finish, but were swept out of the first round by Mahoning Valley.


Miller said he does not want the returning Rangers to walk on egg shells.


“But they also have to come in and understand the team didn’t do as well as they should have last year, didn’t do as good as they were expected to do,” he said.


“So I think the guys would agree that the guys that played here last year, you want to put the best team out on the ice.”


Miller said he will try to help any returning Rangers who don’t make the team find a place to play next season.


The NAHL Entry Draft is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday.