Generals head coach Ray Wareham speaks with his team after practice at Mosaic Place.

After going 1-2 last weekend in Calgary, the Midget AAA Generals have been back on the ice at Mosaic Place this week as they get ready for their final preseason games on Saturday and Sunday against the Notre Dame Hounds.

The Generals took on the Edge Academy in the three-game exhibition series last weekend and head coach Ray Wareham says he was happy with what he saw out his team, "Overall it went pretty good.  I thought for the most part we competed hard all weekend.  We were a little scrambley at times, but as the weekend went on our structure was a little bit better each game, so that's always encouraging."

The weekend gave the team some good building blocks heading into the final weekend of preseason play and Wareham says he wants to see his team apping their play up to regular season level against the Hounds, "We'll have our full lineup and hopefully we can throw it all together and be pretty good."

Second year forward Rhett Gardner says the Calgary weekend was really good for the team as they look to come together before the start of the regular season next weekend, "We had some good high intensity games, but we just need to clean up the structure and that will happen as the exhibition schedule finishes.

"All the new guys really got a feel for the pace and how we play.  Even in the hotel rooms between games, we just got to get to know each other that much better and figured our stuff out there."

Garnder is looking to have a big impact on the Generals this season, which will be his second in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.  He posted 19 goals in 41 games last year, but he says he wants to contribute in all areas this season.

"As one of the veteran guys, I hope to contribute offensively, defensively and off the ice, being a leader," explained Gardner.  "Just helping the young guys out with any questions about the system and stuff, leading by example."

Wareham says he was really impressed with Gardner's play in the three games in Calgary, "I thought he really led the way, used his big body."

The next step before the regular season now for the Generals is getting past these two games against the Hounds and Wareham says they will be a good test for the team, "It's always a tough place to play out there on that big rink, so it gives our guys to get out there and get a feel for it.  A little chance to see what they're made of and things that we can do differently that might give us some success.

"Those young guys coming from Bantam are so use to having the puck all the time because they've been the best players on their team and they're not necessary the go-to-guys on this team, so now they have to make that adjustment and learn how to play without the puck, but so far so good and hopefully it will continue."

The Generals will play the Hounds twice this weekend, on Saturday in Wilcox and then Sunday at Mosaic Place, before opening the season against them on Saturday, September 29th.

Generals HC Ray Wareham

Foward Rhett Gardner