Two Moose Jaw products have their sights set on earning spots in the Western Hockey League this season.

Nolan Jones and Reece Newkirk attended Generals’ training camp this past weekend, but they’re hoping that will be the last time that they are at the midget AAA level.

Both local players selected in last year’s WHL Bantam Draft, signed WHL standard player agreements and will be looking to crack their respective teams this week as they head off to training camp.

“I’m really excited for training camp, I’m ready to get back on the ice and show them what I’ve got,” said Jones, who was a second round pick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Jones saw game action with the Hurricanes last season as a 15-year-old, dressing for three games.  He said that experience gave him a good guide to what it will take to play at the major junior level this season as a 16-year-old.

“I got a little bit of knowledge playing up with the older guys,” he said. “I saw where I needed to work on my game over the rest of last season to get ready.”

The six-foot-one defenceman posted six goals and 20 points in 41 games last season with the Moose Jaw Generals in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.

He said he put in a lot of work over the summer to prepare to make the Hurricanes this season.

“It’s been a lot of training at the gym, doing as much as I could to get on the ice and prepare myself for the upcoming season and be ready for camp,” said Jones.

“I’ve just got to play my best, skate as hard as I can, get in the corners, make good passes and get shots on the net.”

Reece Newkirk in action with the Moose Jaw Generals last season. (Photo: Marc Smith)

Newkirk was the leading scorer for the Generals last season, posting 17 goals and 40 points in 44 games.

He’s heading into training camp with the Portland Winterhawks confident after working hard over the summer to get prepared.

“The guys are so much quicker and bigger, so I’ve been working on my speed and strength,” he said.

The 2016 third round pick had the opportunity to practice with the Winterhawks last season and he said it was an eye-opening experience to get him ready for his chance to make the team this season.

“It was fast, those guys are good and they really push the pace, but it was good,” said Newkirk.

The Winterhawks will feature two high end NHL prospects up front this season with 2017 sixth overall pick Cody Glass and 2016 19th overall pick Kieffer Bellows expected to led their team.

Newkirk said he’s looking forward to learning from them.

“They’re amazing players and I’ll look up to them and learn from them so that one day I can be that good,” he said.

The Hurricanes and Winterhawks open their training camps later this week.