HOUGHTON Over the weekend the Ojibwa Eagles Midget AAA team held tryouts for their 2009-10 team at the Student Development Complex on the campus of Michigan Technological University. After it was all said and done a group was formed that included seven returning players and six locals,

Though much of the roster is completed, Eagles coach Dan Giachino said the final list won't be available until closer to the season.

Highlighting the list of Copper Country players includes newcomers Levi Erkkila of Calumet at Josh Hendrickson of Hancock.

Erkkila is just the third Calumet native to play for the Eagles following Eric Bausano and Levi's cousin Jeff Erkkila. Levi will be a freshman at Calumet High School next year and played bantam AA last season.

"I joined because there will be more games and a better challenge," Erkkila said. "I will get noticed more and I can go further."

Coach Dan Giachino immediately liked what Levi brought to the table at tryouts.

"He can flat out play the game, he sees the ice well," Giachino said. "I told him it doesn't matter your age; you can see the ice better than kids 3-4 years older.

"His talent level clearly excels his age."

Hendrickson was a part of the goaltending tandem at Hancock Central High School last season that won the Lake Superior Conference. His older brother Chris, who now plays for Finlandia, spent two seasons with the Eagles.

Other locals include veteran forward Alex Roy and a Baraga County trio of Josh Borgen, Bryant Froberg and Justin Reilley, who all played last season.

Robbie Payne and Nick Vande Kieft will also be returning for a second season with the Eagles.

Payne and Roy finished last season first and second in scoring for the Eagles with Payne scoring 39 points in 52 games and Roy adding 38 points in 50 games, including a team-leading 24 goals.

Giachino said he was happy with the camp and that he likes his team's chances this year.

"The camp was really good, we had a lot of really good players," he said. "The group we have returning are all good kids, the forwards are solid and have the ability to put the puck in the net."

With only one man returning on the defensive side of the puck, Giachino said his team will have a lot of work to do.

Joining Hendrickson tending the goal is Norman Purmal.

Purmal hails from Merrill, Wisc., the same town as former-Eagle Jake Hauswirth who signed a 3-year contract with the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals last month.

"I'm pretty excited, it's going to be a great year," Purmal said. "It will be a new opportunity to get seen, more exposure."

Ironwood's Mike Gullan will also be returning. Gullan scored seven goals and eight assists last season with the team, and his parents were excited to send him back for a second season.

"It was a good experience and we feel that this is the best place for future development," Mike's father Jerry Gullan said. "Some places are all about winning, but I feel that this is the best place for him to develop and, if it's in the cards, get to the next level."

The camp was also a welcomed site for area high school players interested in playing for the Eagle's pre-season team. The team participated in about 20 games before the high school teams begin practices.

"That'll be good again this year," Giachino said. "It will mostly be younger kids, with a few older ones."

For more information on the Eagles as well as their pre-season team visit their Web site, ojibwaeagles.com.

Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.