With so many new faces on the Grand Forks Border Bruins Junior B hockey club, introductions were in order last night at the team's wine and cheese sponsor appreciation social.
Gerry Foster, marketing manager for the team, introduced the new coach and general manager Brad Snyder who in turn introduced the players who came from far and wide to play from the Bruins.
In fact, one player, defenceman Steele Anderson, came right from the Spokane airport to the event. Anderson is from Utah but was recently playing junior in Manitoba. In all, the Bruins have nine players from outside B.C. including three Americans and four from Calgary.
The team does have a number of veteran players returning including Michael Rand, Jeremy McGregor, Tucker Brown, Max Newton, Lincoln Lane and more, the will be counted on to lead the way.
Also speaking at the event was team president Martin Vanlerberg. The social was an opportunity for the community sponsors to meet the players, the coaches and the board members.
The team kicks off the KIJHL regular season tonight (Friday) with a 7pm game at home against 100 Mile House at Jack Goddard Memorial Arena. The team continues the three game weekend homestand with games Saturday against Spokane at 7pm and Sunday afternoon at 2pm against neighbouring Castlegar Rebels, whom the Bruins split with in the pre-season.