Training Camp is (Almost) Here!

It's here. Finally.

The Battlefords North Stars kick off their training camp this afternoon at 1:00. Once registration is complete, each team will take the ice for a 45 minute practice, and each team will then scrimmage in the evening. I plan on checking out both scrimmage (6:15 - 7:30 and 7:45 - 9:00) so feel free to stop by and check out the action.

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I spoke with Ken Pearson yesterday and here is a shortened transcript of our conversation:

DO: Why don't you first talk about the optimism amongst you and the rest of the coaches regarding training camp?

KP: We're excited to see how our players have responded during the offseason with some of their training, and how they've come back. It's just exciting to get back on the ice, something that everybody has waited along time for. I'm really looking forward to see how these teams compete this weekend.

DO: Were you pleased with your recruiting during the offseason?

KP: Obviously we won some recruiting battles, and lost some recruiting battles, but that's just the way it goes. For the most part we shored up some areas that we were concerned about. Obviously we're still going to have to wait on a few things with some kids away at Major Junior Camp. But the kids that we signed - We're really happy to have gotten them signed.

DO: What is the message going to be to the team tonight and through the weekend:

KP: We don't want guys going through the motions thinking that 'it's just the weekend.' If you wait for that to happen and you think you get a free pass to the pre-season, you're going to be in for a surprise. We want guys competing hard and we want guys working hard all weekend.

DO: How will this camp be different from years past?

KP: 15-20 year olds will all be thrown together in four teams instead of six. We're just going to go with four(teams). We think we're going to have a real competitive camp going that route. We're really happy with our young guys and I think it will give us an opportunity to measure where we are with our young guys and our old guys doing it this way.

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Personally I'm going to focus my attention on the following:

1) The Goaltending Battle.

Perhaps the most intriguing question surrounding this team right now is whether both Graham Hildebrand and Kyle Birch will be in uniform come opening night. It's no secret that both goalies want to start, and (best case scenario) want to stay in the Battlefords. Personally I would love to see both stay, but this is a business, and Ken Pearson is certainly in a position of strength when it comes to a potential deal. The wild-card in this situation is 18-year-old goaltender Lukas McDonald. McDonald is one of several goalies trying to make Ken Pearson's decision even tougher. A strong camp from one of the rookie netminders may help sway Pearson's decision one way or another.

2) The Back-End.

It seems like every season the Stars enter training-camp with some big question-marks on defence. Cody Folstad, Woody Klassen and Dominic Perrault are locks but after that it's a complete crapshoot. Kolten Baptiste showed lots of promise last year, and could easily make this team with a good camp. Kyle Schmidt is at Calgary Hitmen camp, an certainly has the tools to be a defenceman in the WHL. Here's hoping that one or two defenceman can play their way onto this team through an impressive camp.

EDIT: Baptiste is indeed at camp with the OCN Blizzard. Thanks Stars123 for keeping me in the loop.

3) The Rookie Forwards.

Shayne Morrissey, Colin Phaneuf, Tim Rollins, Tanner Schwab, and Kyle Hall are all players that Ken Pearson feels can make this team. You would think that these five players have a 'leg-up' on some of the other rookies at camp. That being said, Pearson said yesterday that nobody's job is safe, and just because he signed these kids doesn't mean they get a free ride.

Morrissey, Phaneuf and Schwab will bring obvious skill to the table while Rollins and Hall should add some grit. It will be an important weekend for these five players in particular.

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I'm going to try and do some live blogging from camp tonight, but we'll see how it goes. Julie will also be taking some photos tonight, so you can anticipate some of those being posted before too long.

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Dane Muench has scored at least twice during Regina Pats' inter-squad games and has been skating on a line with fellow Martensville product Dominic Favreau and Devin Balness.

Again, I'm not there and I don't have a real 'leg to stand on.' But it seems to me that Dane is going to given every opportunity to make this team, and I'd be stunned if he didn't. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Dane's, and I would instantly become a fan of the Regina Pats should he stick.

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We'll see you tonight.