Spud Kings’ Red and Gold game will let fans in on roster selection process

IDAHO FALLS — The Spud Kings’ regular play starts successful conscionable 2 weeks. But earlier it takes nan ice, nan squad must first beryllium decided. That is wherever Monday’s Red and Gold crippled comes in.

All week, prospective Spud Kings players person taken portion successful a training camp, looking to gain 1 of 26 coveted roster spots. Those players will beryllium divided into 2 groups and pitted against each different for an intrasquad crippled astatine nan Mountain America Center.

There are presently 41 players astatine camp. After Monday’s scrimmage, that number will beryllium trimmed to 30 aliases so, according to wide head Erik Hudson, pinch nan last roster expected to beryllium announced aft nan Sept. 13 and 14 scrimmages against nan Rock Springs Grizzlies.

“We want to springiness these guys each opportunity to showcase their ability,” Hudson said. “We’re taking our time, we’re not rushing nan process, we’re making judge we’re making nan correct decisions.”

Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Hudson explained that this is nan first clip nan Red and Gold crippled will beryllium played successful beforehand of fans, arsenic a measurement to springiness what he believes to beryllium nan champion fanbase successful inferior lucky a glimpse down nan curtain.

Hudson and nan statement are hopeful this accumulation will go a tradition.

As for nan conflict connected nan ice, Hudson said while location are immoderate returning players who are each but guaranteed a spot, location are immoderate very promising caller players who person fundamentally secured their spot and, he expects, will soon beryllium instrumentality favorites. That leaves only a fistful of roster spots up for grabs.

“There are immoderate guys connected nan bubble present who are vying for those past 4 aliases 5 positions,” he said. “We’ve sewage a batch of returners, and you tin show by nan measurement they’re performing successful this (camp) that they took their offseason training very seriously.”

First-year caput coach Anthony Bohn echoed that sentiment, saying that he is excited astir nan title and nan improvement of a “good foundation” arsenic nan Spud Kings hole for what they dream will beryllium nan organization’s first title season.

Coach Anthony Bohn offers instruction during believe Thursday. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Championships are thing Bohn knows a spot about. Having coached astatine “every level,” including nan pros, Bohn has led immoderate successful teams. Including past year, erstwhile his Windy City Storm U18 squad won nan Illinois authorities title and Midwest District Championship, earning a berth into nan USA Hockey National Championships.

When asked what led him from nan successful Chicago-based squad to Idaho Falls, Bohn said it was a spot of dumb luck that started nan modulation and an electrical ambiance that sealed it.

He discovered nan statement while helping 1 of his Storm players, who was considering joining nan squad. When he discovered nan Spud Kings were searching for a caller coach, he told them he was willing successful throwing his chapeau successful nan ring.

As portion of nan recruiting process, Bohn was brought to Idaho Falls for a location crippled past season, and nan “unbelievable” passion of nan fans sold him.

“When I walked into nan building, and heard nan crowd and saw really galore group were here, I was perfectly blown away,” Bohn said. “There’s not different spot that has that type of ambiance — and I’ve coached pro, I’ve coached astatine different inferior spots, and this was adjacent level. … Ever since then, it’s conscionable been Idaho Falls.”

Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Bohn and Hudson work together that, aft 2 years successful nan convention — making a playoff quality successful some — nan Spud Kings are fresh to move from nan underdog to nan favorite. Hudson expects his squad to make a superior tally astatine an NCDC Mountain Division title this year.

“Our extremity is — it’s now clip to compete for a championship; it’s clip to beryllium nan favorite,” Hudson said. “The extremity for america is to put a title merchandise connected nan crystal from day-one this year.”

“I deliberation we person nan process and instauration successful spot to springiness ourselves nan champion chance,” Bohn added. “I deliberation we’re connected nan correct track.”

And that way originates Monday astatine 7:05 p.m., erstwhile nan puck drops astatine nan Mountain American Center for nan Red and Gold game.