Virden Oil Capitals Fall Camp begins Friday.

"It's obviously a long time coming and you certainly always took forward to it," said Oil Capitals head coach Troy Leslie. "It's an exciting time of the year. We've got lots of returning players and we're looking forward to the year."

Leslie is expecting close to 60 players to attend Fall Camp.

"It's going to be an interesting weekend. You have guys coming back from the previous season and they have high expectations of themselves. And there are young players coming in and want to prove that they belong in the league this season or are going to make an impression for years to come. It's an exciting time for players but it's also a bit of a nerve-wracking experience and that's all part of the process."

The "Garry Cup" Intrasquad game will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.

The Oil Capitals will play their first of six preseason games on Tuesday, September 5th against the Terriers in Portage.

"The rookie game is one that our scouting staff and the coaching staff look forward to in terms of seeing where these young prospects matchup against some other teams prospects as well," said coach Leslie. "That for sure is a game we look forward to and then right into exhibition games with some of our older players starting off in Steinbach."

Virden will open the 2017-2018 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season at home against the Dauphin Kings on September 22nd.