By Jeff D'Andrea

Yaremchuk hoping to make good first impression with hometown Raiders

Aug 18, 2011 | 9:57 AM

Not many hockey players get drafted by their hometown teams, but Lance Yaremchuk received that honour when the Prince Albert Raiders chose him in the sixth round in this year WHL’s Bantam Draft.

Now Yaremchuk has to earn a spot on the Raiders and that journey starts next Thursday, when he’ll go to his first Raiders camp.

Although he won’t be eligible to make the team for this season as he is only 15 years old, Yaremchuk said it’s important to make a good first impression.

“I gotta prove that I can skate with them,” said Yaremchuk, who scored 41 points in just 20 games with the Bantam Provincial Champion Venice House Pirates.

“I think that’s my biggest aspect of my game, my speed. I have to show them that I play with the Raiders and fit in the best I can.”

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Yaremchuk recognizes the big opportunity he’s given and said he couldn’t be happier when he found out his hometown Raiders had drafted him.

“It couldn’t have happened any better for me, for me being from P.A., it felt great to be recognized,” he said.

“They talked to me for a bit and I was really glad.”

Yaremchuk has kept himself busy over the summer, going to the Saskatchewan Hockey Top 40 Camp in Notre Dame back in July, training and running at home and even entering in a five-week Crossfit program.

Before Raiders main camp starts on the Aug. 25, Yaremchuk will attend the Prince Albert Mintos Fall Camp.

Yaremchuk will play for the Mintos with a lot of familiar faces — four guys he saw at the Top 40 camp and all last season with the Pirates all made the team.

Yaremchuk will be joined by forwards Miles Warkentine and Ryan Duret, and defencemen Jordan Harris and Bryton Sayers, all of whom will bring some youthful skill to the Mintos this upcoming season.

“All of us are really good friends and we got to know each other good,” said Yaremchuk.

“Obviously, we dominated in everything last year and I think us five will contribute quite a bit with the Mintos and hopefully do well as first-years.”

The Mintos begin their season on Sept. 8, facing the Tisdale Trojans at the Art Hauser Centre in an exhibition game.

jdandrea@panow.com