Training Camp - Day One

10:30pm - The score in the second game was a little closer with Team Grey defeating Team White 7-5. At the mid-way mark the two teams were tied at three but after the flood, Team Grey opened with a quick goal. Early in the third, Team White tied it up again only to see Team Grey pull away with the next two goals and a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Goal scorers for Team White included Wes McLeod, Stewart Lambert and Sam Muchalla with a hat trick. Steven Powers, Luke Hannas and Geoff Morgan picked up singles for Team Grey while Nick DeSousa and Tyson Hall scored twice each. One time major midget team mates, Lambert and Hannas renewed acquaintances by dropping their gloves in the third period.

With one scrimmage under everyone's belt, some players have probably realized just how much of a step up it is to play Junior A and will be looking to make an early impression on Saturday. For others it may just be a feeling that they want to show something more now that they have been given back the feel of the game. For everyone, it is a safe bet that no one will be satisfied and that means that the spectators will be treated to some more entertaining hockey on Saturday in the Coliseum.

8:00pm - Was it puck luck, dumb luck or something else? Maybe it was the coach, either way Team Red came out on the wrong end of a 7-2 score giving up five goals in the first half of the game. Goal scorers for Team Red were Chris Allbee and Adam Baldassarre. On the other side Joe Morgan was the leading goal scorer for Team Blue with four. Nick Beischer (pron: Bay-Sure) had a pair and Joe Becker tallied with the only goal in the final twenty minutes.

In the third period, Team Red had their chances and just couldn't bury for one reason or another but did carry the majority of the play. These two teams will get to do it again on Sunday morning after they play Team White and Team Grey in their Saturday scrimmages. Saturday is also fitness day with players heading to Masich Place Stadium in the afternoon for fitness testing.

The X-Conditioning staff will be measuring the player's fitness, conditioning and strength with a series of tests including sprints, the beep test, a professional agility test and a few other fitness tests. All sessions, including the fitness testing is open to the public as the players continue through the camp leading up to Sunday's Intra Squad Game. The Annual Blue White game will be played at the Prince George Coliseum beginning at 3:00pm, admission is just a toonie for everyone with children getting in for free.

5:30pm - I'm on the bench in a half hour coaching Team Red with the likes of Andrew Pickering, Justin Fillion, Jeff Earnest and Adam Baldassarre on that roster. A number of hopefuls will be looking for their first opportunity to impress the coaches and scouts.

3:30pm - Everybody at the camp has now stepped on the ice at the Coliseum as the second half of the camp starts their practice session. Team Grey and Team White spent a little time before hitting the dressing room just watching the previous practice session. With Team Red and Team Blue off the ice now, they will get ready for the first game scrimmage.

1:30pm - Team assignments have been made for the players and the coaches ... I will be coaching Team Red all weekend along with Adrien Chabot. I'm looking forward to it as our counterparts on the other bench will be the team's marketing manager Jim Young and Todd Doherty. First up is a little practice time with Ed Dempsey for both Team Red and Team Blue at 2:00pm. Then those two teams will meet each other at 6:00pm for the first game scrimmage of the camp.

12:40pm - Almost all of the expected sixty players have come through the registration lineup for the training camp. Lots of handshakes and wishes for a big season from the veterans. I think I also caught a few "I'm checking you out glances" from some of the new prospects. It's going to be a good training camp.

11:00am - An hour beforehand and there are already a large number of prospects wandering the Castle waiting for the noon start time for registration. The Spruce Kings office is starting to fill up too with scouts who will be on hand this weekend to help with the evaluation of the expected sixty plus players. It is all contributing to raising the excitement level around the rink in anticipation of a new hockey season.

Throughout the weekend I will be posting short blogs here and tweets on the Spruce Kings twitter account. Feel free to leave me comments and questions about the training camp and I will respond as best I can given the amount of activity that is expected around the Coliseum.