NIAGARA FALLS – With a new coach, a new sponsor and a new night for home games, a lot has changed with the Chippawa RiverHawks this year.

Sunday more than 60 hopeful players were at Stamford Arena as the junior C hockey team opened its 2003-04 season with the first day of training camp.

With only nine players returning from last year’s team, a good portion of this year’s roster will come from the camp, but new head coach Brian Thorne is also playing a waiting game with players trying out for junior B teams.

"This is a very busy time of year for all coaches, but at the junior C level probably even more than at the junior B level because we’re out looking at all teams," said Thorne, who spent much of the weekend at the Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League’s pre-season tournament in Fort Erie.

Thorne took over the reins as head coach of Chippawa from Beau Spencer in the off-season after spending the last few years as an assistant.

Knowing the veteran numbers would be limited, he spent much of the summer contacting players.

"We did a lot of mailing out of letters and the response has been good," said Thorne, who also sat down with all of the veterans.

"I’ve met with all of the players that are returning and kind of got their thoughts and views on what they’re looking for this year."

What Thorne is looking for is a disciplined hockey team that spends less time arguing penalties and more time celebrating goals.

"I think we’ll definitely be well disciplined and we’ll be a hard-working hockey club and we’ll be there each and every night ready to play," he said.

Making the need for disciplined hockey even more important is the fact the RiverHawks ownership has decided to move the team’s home night to Thursdays from its longtime spot on Sundays.

Games will still be held at Chippawa Willoughby Memorial Arena and will start at 7 p.m.

"It’s going to be tough because we’re going to have a lot of back to backs on Thursday (at home) and Friday (on the road) so discipline will be an important factor," said Thorne.

The RiverHawks have seven players returning including Byron Harding, Dwayne Fryer, Brent Weaver, James McConnell, Shane Belanger, Steve Liddiard and Mike Leone, as well as two overagers. Only three of the five eligible overagers have been invited to camp, and since R.D. Lacroix has got one of those two spots already locked up, the final overage player will either be forward Orlando Pingue or Steve St. Angelo, who plays both forward and defence.

"Depending on what kind of team we’re going to have will dictate with regards to Orlando and Steve. They both bring a lot of good things to the table. It just depends on what we need," said Thorne.

The RiverHawks also have a new title sponsor. Although their previous primary sponsor Mick & Angelo’s will still help out in a smaller role, Assante Financial Management has signed a one-year deal to take over the title sponsorship.

After opening camp Sunday at Stamford Arena, the Hawks move back to Chippawa Arena Tuesday and Wednesday and then host Dunnville in a rookies-only exhibition game Thursday. The regular season is set to start with a home game Sept. 25.

Thorne said he has been looking forward to the first game for a while.

"You’re anxious to get going again and in your head you’re putting lineups together.

"You know it’s going to change a million times, but you tend to start penciling who is going to go where," he said.