Brayden Point and Dryden Hunt are gone, but the Moose Jaw Warriors are confident that they have the players in place to fill the void, and maybe improve on, where their two star players left off last year.

The Warriors open training camp on Thursday with 72 players in town to battle for a roster spot on the WHL squad.

After making their first playoff appearance in three seasons last year, the Warriors are focused on building off that performance going into this season.

The loss of Point and Hunt, who accounted for 93 goals and 204 points last season, will be tough to overcome, but the Warriors are expecting players like Brett Howden, Noah Gregor and Nikita Popugaev to step up and lead the offence.

“I’m not sure that any team in our league boasts the potential in their lineup up front for improvement in terms of offensive production that we do,” said General Manager Alan Millar on the eve of training camp.

“This team has the capabilities to be a little more complete and deeper (than last year). A number of guys being a year older is certainly going to have an impact.”

Howden (24) and Gregor (28) both had over 20 goals as 17-year-olds last season, while Popugaev posted 16 goals, Jeannot had 17 and Halbgewachs finished with 15 on the year. All five players are expected to be the leaders offensively for the Tribe this season.

There’s also room for those players to grow together, as the Warriors’ top-9 have the chance to be together for the next two seasons.

“Popugaev, (Jayden) Halbgewachs, (Tanner) Jeannot, Howden, Gregor, even Luka Burzan coming in at 16, we believe Brayden Watts will take a good step, we feel that there’s some depth there and abilities that are going to improve our team,” said Millar.

The team is strong up front, but Millar feels it will be defensively that the team shows their most improvement from last season after allowing the second-most goals among Eastern Conference playoff teams.

“We’re deeper, we’re stronger and we’re more mobile back there than we have been in a few years,” said Millar. “I really like that group moving forward.”

The Warriors have 20-year-old Josh Thrower, 19-year-old Ryan Gardiner, 18-year-old Colin Paradis and 17-year-old Josh Brook all returning, to go along with 20-year-old Matt Sozanski being acquired in a trade during the offseason.

The team also added 18-year-old defenceman Dmitri Zaitsev through the import draft and will see 16-year-old Jett Woo play his first full season with the Tribe.

17-year-old d-man Brandon Armstrong is also expected to have a good shot at making the team after signing with the Warriors following Prospects Camp in the spring.

Millar expects some of the veterans to be pushed for spots and playing time heading into camp.

“We’re a team that doesn’t really get caught up in age in terms of who can benefit the club the best,” Millar said. “We like our depth above and beyond the returning roster in terms of our 50-man list, we’ve drafted well over the past couple of years and Doug Gasper and his staff have listed well.”

There isn’t much wiggle room in net with both Zach Sawchenko and Brody Willms returning, but the two veterans will be battling each other for playing time.

The Warriors open training camp on Thursday with rookie camp being the focus over the first two days. They're on the ice for practices on Thursday at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. with the first scrimmage of rookie camp following at 7 p.m.  Main camp starts on the weekend with the annual Black and White Game wrapping things up on Sunday at 4 p.m.  All ice times at Mosaic Place are open and free to the public.