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In the crease, they’ve added Kenny Cameron (NAIT) and Brendan Burke (Calgary).

“We didn’t have a lot of choice when 68% of your offence leaves your team,” laughed Marple.

“We’re extremely pleased with the recruitment class. It’s a similar situation as it was five years ago. When your back is against the wall, you don’t have much choice. You need to do everything you can to make your team as good as you possibly can.”

Baillie, Cox, Phillip and Fiddler are four veteran WHLers who will be instant impact players for the Bears. Baillie scored 43 goals and 95 points in his final year of junior with Kelowna. Cox is a prolific playmaker, who two years ago scored 29 goals and 109 points with Medicine Hat.

Fiddler scored 42 and 50 goals in his last two years of junior and Phillip is a two-time 30-goal scorer in the WHL. Both Baillie and Phillip also have Memorial Cup experience.

“It would be really nice to have those guys playing together for the next four or five years. They are highly skilled guys who compliment each other really well,” said Marple.

“We were able to recruit some natural goal scorers to our lineup, and we’ve added some size into our lineup.”

Linaker and Cooper will be likely be relied upon in more of checking role for the Bears, but they are both great two-way players that can be depended on in all situations.

On the blue line, the additions of Fram, Rehill, Craig and Carroll will provide more depth to an already deep defence corps.