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The roster will be full of first-year players, forced to regularly go head-to-head against veteran CIS players on loaded squads including UQTR, McGill and the cross-town Carleton Ravens, while adjusting to university life.

The club has already settled on 21 players. An additional five will be added following open tryouts among students Sept. 10-11.

That, however, is one of many areas where Grandmaitre drops the word “opportunity,” a chance for incoming players to get a head start on their CIS careers.

“If they went to another program, maybe it would be two or three years before they could challenge for power-play time or a bigger role,” he said. “Initially, the battle here is internal.”

In an attempt to put a fresh, positive face on men’s hockey after the two-year suspension, players are also being encouraged to give a little more of themselves away from the ice.

“It’s a huge opportunity for our guys to not only rebuild a hockey program, but to rebuild our reputation,” the Gee-Gees coach said. “We’re encouraging our students to really get involved in school, to be seen at other U of O sports events, to be interested in the campus and the city.”

The arrival of the Senators’ top farm club should also serve as attention boost.

A year ago, Carleton upset Binghamton 1-0 in an exhibition game, but Grandmaitre isn’t quite sure what to expect from an AHL team.

At this point, he’s still trying to get a grasp on what his own team will look like.

New-look uniforms are coming Sept. 7 and the exhibition season opens Sept. 14 against McGill. The first regular-season game is Oct. 7 against the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

“Maybe we’ll feel it after that first exhibition game, when we’re all in that same jersey,” Grandmaitre said. “Right now, there’s so much preparation. We’re going through so many things. Everything is 100 miles per hour now.”

kwarren@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren