The Iron Horse Kindersley Klippers are entering next season with a new head coach, a new nucleus, and a refreshed goal after committing to getting younger last season. The team had 44 players play at least one game for them last season, including 19 rookies. 20 year olds Kyle Bosch and Austin Nault were moved to Melfort in an effort to give them a chance at a playoff run, but the other 20 year olds in Tyler Traptow, Devon Cyr, and Captain Brendan Borbely stuck around to help act as role models for the younger team. Both Traptow and Borbely started their SJHL careers with the Klippers, as well as Cyr who wasn't with the team to begin the season, but was brought back to help elevate the locker room. The Klippers scouting department seems committed to running out a young skilled team next year, under new Head Coach Ken Plaquin.

The Klippers talent pool comes from a variety of places, featuring homegrown talent such as Jaxon Georget and Kerrobert brothers Brett and Micheal Neumeier. Two of the Klippers leading scorers that will look to continue contributing next season are Calgary natives Liam Fraser and Scott McKenzie. McKenzie scored 42 points in 56 games for the Klippers this past season, while Fraser scored 30 goals on the year. The Klippers also feature american talent such as Las Vegas native defensman Steven Avalone who completed his second year in Kindersley, and bruising forward Jacob Schnapp who hails from New Port Richey, Florida.

Klippers US Scout Jim Ruggiero continues to scour the american hockey ranks, and will look to hit on another US born forward in Michigan native Gavin Skinner. Gavin played his minor hockey in the Michigan High School Hockey system, only playing AAA before and after the school year, before committing to high school hockey for his senior season as many high school seniors do.

Gavin is a dual citizen, and is coming to Kindersley excited for the opportunity to jump right in and contribute to the already assembled young core. He is a 6'1 forward that can assume centre ice duties, or either wing. Gavins representation at Stretch Pass Advising in Michigan, described his game to WestCentralOnline.

"He's about 175 pounds and knows he needs to put on some weight, but as far as his game he is a goal scorer," said Andrew Gilgallon of SPA "He can really shoot, and if you get him anywhere near the net he is going to score or have a really good chance at scoring"

He would go onto say how Skinner is a better play-maker than a lot of people give him credit for. Andrew Gilgallon owns Stretch Pass advising, and also added how Skinner looks to play with a physical side, but it was tough for him to express it in high school as the team often operated with a short bench.

The speed of the game will certainly change for Gavin compared to what he saw in Romeo, but he certainly has the potential to add some weight and work his way into a top 6 forward spot for the team. The Klippers will enter next season with many different options concerning their forward depth, but having a 1-2 punch of goalscorers at the centre position surrounded by young skilled players could make the team very excited.

SPA kept coming back to Kindersley when it came to Gavin's decision, as location, opportunity, along with the teams physically fit profile thanks to Coach Larry Wintoneak were all factors in his signing. Gilgallon noted in the interview, that they had to shut Gavin down from lifting on game-days because of the teams short bench and need for their captain every night.

The Klippers had a down year last season after a slight playoff run in 2018, and will look to begin their trajectory back to the top next season when they unveil the new core they worked so hard to build this fall. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the Klippers Spring Camp, but they are looking to hold the camp at a later date.