After an up and down 2014-2015 campaign, the Bantam AA Broncos are looking to take the next step this season.

With some building blocks in place from last year, new head coach Mike Barlage is looking forward to being behind the bench.

"I'm pretty excited about the upcoming year. I've put quite a bit of work into this season already, so it's just a matter of getting organized and playing some hockey."

The Broncos have nine returning players from last year's team which lost to the Sask Valley Vipers in the North Division Final.

Barlage says they will look to those nine players to bring the workload.

"That's what we're going to rely on this year, is just have all those second year guys step up, be leaders, and build team chemistry and work hard that way."

Five of the eight new players to the team are coming up from the Peewee AA program, which claimed the Centre Four Hockey League Championship last year.

"I think that's a big part of their development, just learning how to win," Barlage explained. "They know what it takes. Both years they had adversity but overcame it and finished off strong."

The Peewee program also won the league title in the 2013-14 season, where 11 of the current 17 roster players played together that year.

With no shortage of winning and experience on the roster, Barlage says the team will aim to lower one blemish they had on last year's Bantam team - that being goals allowed.

"We're going to focus on having good team defence. We have a pretty good defence group this year, and we have a lot of good forwards."

While winning is one of the main goals for any sports team, development is also a key trait for minor hockey players.

Barlage thinks he has found the right contrast with assistant coaches Luke Strueby and Jonathan Barlage in obtaining both objectives.

"For most of them it's going to be Midget Triple-A. We just want to try and give them the skills they need for that and also the key things they need, and have them mature as players that way."

The Bantam's open up their season on Saturday when they head to Tisdale for a meeting with the Northeast Wolfpack. Their home opener will take place on Sunday, October 4 at 11:45am against the Melville Millionaires.

Roster (alphabetical)
Blake Allen
Logan Barlage
Corbin Christensen
Hunter Edmonds
Brett Fogg
Max Gudnason
Dawson Hering
Holden Holaday
Gavin Ingram
Kaden Kohle
Dylan Lindal
Lucas Ochitwa
Ryland Pronych
Carter Sawchuk
Dylan Scriven
Derek Tarnowski
Kade Vipond
Cael Zimmerman
Head Coach: Mike Barlage
Assistant Coach: Luke Strueby
Assistant Coach: Jonathan Barlage

To hear more from Barlage's interview with Bolt FM's Clark Stork click below