Thursday, August 28, 2014

ICE Camp Report

There are 56 players at camp.
6 are goalies.
There is a big change in the goaltending department as Wyatt Hoflin is now the #1 netminder.
It's his 3rd year with the ICE.
Last year he won the last 3 games of the first round playoff series against Calgary.
Mackenzie Skapski has signed a contract with the NHL New York Rangers and could still be returned to the WHL but the ICE aren't expecting him to return.
The battle is on for the back-up job.
Watch out for - 18-year-old Jayden Sittler who played 1 game with the ICE last year and earned a win in his hometown of Red Deer.
18-year-old Keelan Williams is in his 1st camp with the ICE and played in the AJHL last year.
16-year-old Declan Hobbs is a highly touted netminder who was selected in the 3rd round of the 2013 Bantam draft.

18 are defensemen, 5 played full-time with the ICE last season.
They are Troy Murray, Jordan Steenbergen, Tyler King, Rinat Valiev and Tanner Faith.
The ICE usually carry 7 defensemen during the season so that means there are at least 2 spots open for some new blueliners.
Watch out for - 17-year-old Dylan Overydyk played 4 games with the ICE last season and is a former 2nd round pick by the ICE in the 2012 Bantam Draft.
16-year-old Cale Fleury is the younger brother of Red Deer's Haydn Fleury who was just selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. Like his brother Cale is a great skater and had a great camp with the ICE last year.
Griffen Mendel is at camp, he was the club's 1st pick in this summer's Bantam draft and is too young to play in the WHL full-time this season, but fans have a chance to see him this weekend.

There are 32 forwards.
The ICE have 10 forwards who played regularly in the WHL last year. 9 with the ICE and 1 with Moose Jaw.
The vets are Ryan Chynoweth, Kyle O'Connor, Jon Martin, Luke Philp, Jaedon Descheneau, Austin Vetterl, Matt Alfaro, Zak Zborosky and Levi Cable.
A new face is Russian Alexander Chirva who was selected by the ICE in the Import Draft and played for the Warriors last season.
The ICE usually go with 13 forwards during the regular season so that should mean there are 3 openings.
Watch out for - 17-year-old Austin Wellsby played 5 games with the ICE last year.
Jared Legien was the first round pick in the 2013 Bantam Draft.
Vince Loschiavo was their 2nd round pick in that same draft.