The Kelowna rockets 2018 training camp is underway with 58 players vying for positions on the WHL team for the upcoming season.
During the camp, players are being split into three squads, with the first taking the ice early for practice and other two then facing off in a scrimmage.
Players are then given a break, and one of the two teams that scrimmaged hits the ice again for practice in the afternoon, followed by a scrimmage by the other two squads.
乌鸦传媒淚t has been really good to see the guys again, and to be able to get back to the high-paced tempo that we get used to throughout the season,乌鸦传媒� said Rockets forward Wil Kushniryk, who is entering his second season in Kelowna.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 really high speed and high tempo and it乌鸦传媒檚 good to see the younger guys out there doing well too so it乌鸦传媒檚 exciting. We乌鸦传媒檝e been working on a lot of conditioning. Just getting back into shape and ready. We乌鸦传媒檝e worked on some skills and things like that but most of the focus has been on getting back into shape for the season.乌鸦传媒�
It乌鸦传媒檚 a sentiment shared by returning defenceman Libor Zabransky.
乌鸦传媒淐amp has been good,乌鸦传媒� said Zabransky. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e had a couple of games so far, everyone is out there working hard and trying their best so it乌鸦传媒檚 been fun. We will be in good shape,乌鸦传媒� he said.
The native of Brno, Czech Rep. spent the offseason training back home.
乌鸦传媒淚t was a fun offseason. I was at home so I got to enjoy some time with my family and my friends. I was also with my old team in Brno so I had summer workouts with them which was nice for me working out with older, bigger guys, I really enjoyed it,乌鸦传媒� Zabransky said.
乌鸦传媒淚 just tried to get bigger and faster, and just improve myself overall. With guys like Cal Foote and the other guys not being here anymore, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to a bigger challenge for me this season.乌鸦传媒�
Related: Rockets open camp with bar set high
The main training camp continues for Kushniryk, Zabransky and the rest of the team this week and will wrap tomorrow, with the Rockets preseason starting Friday when they host division rivals, the Victoria Royals at Prospera Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for that game at , at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. For full preseason schedule, click .
Season tickets are also now on sale. The Rockets are bidding to host the 2020 Memorial Cup and say season ticket holders will have the rights to their seats for the tournament if Kelowna wins the bid.
Prior to the start of the main camp, the team乌鸦传媒檚 rookie camp wrapped up on Friday with newcomers given an opportunity to showcase their talents for the team乌鸦传媒檚 coaches.
Speed and creativity were abundant as Rockets hopefuls played 3-on-3 to finish their camp.
While the rookies played their final games, players attending the main camp took part in fitness testing on Friday.
Players were tested on bench press, squats, agility, vertical leap, pull-ups, and a reach test, as well as body fat tests. Usually the players are also tested during a five-kilometre run but due to health concerns posed by the smoke in the air that day,the run was cancelled.
Veteran Erik Gardiner said he was happy with how he and his teammates looked at the fitness testing.
乌鸦传媒淚 thought I did pretty well. Everybody looks bigger, stronger, and faster like I think they should and I think everyone is just anxious to get out on the ice and get started,乌鸦传媒� Gardiner said.
Entering his third season with the Rockets, Gardiner said he乌鸦传媒檚 happy to be back and starting training camp.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 really excited. It乌鸦传媒檚 nice to be back in Kelowna despite the smoke (which cleared Sunday),乌鸦传媒� he said.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 great to be back around the guys, see the coaches, and be around the room. I乌鸦传媒檝e been waiting for basically the whole summer to get back, so it乌鸦传媒檚 awesome to be here.乌鸦传媒�
Gardiner, a Humboldt, Sask. native, said it was a tough offseason with aftermath of the tragic bus crash that killed 16members of the Humboldt Broncos Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team in April.
乌鸦传媒淏ut it was nice to get away from it moving to Saskatoon,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚 had a lot of support, so I ended up turning into a fun offseason. I worked really hard and I feel like I improved on everything so I乌鸦传媒檓 ready to get back out there.乌鸦传媒�
He said he worked mainly on his skating as he felt that was a weakness in his game.
乌鸦传媒淚 think I improved on that and hopefully I can show how much I乌鸦传媒檝e improved in camp,乌鸦传媒� Gardiner said.
乌鸦传媒淎s a team every year we乌鸦传媒檙e looking to make the playoffs and we乌鸦传媒檙e looking to hopefully build on kind of what we乌鸦传媒檝e been building since I乌鸦传媒檝e been here.
He said losing to Seattle a couple years ago was tough and then losing again last year was even harder, so hopefully the team can do better in the upcoming season.
乌鸦传媒�(We need to) just play as a team, and play strong. If we do that we should be pretty successful,乌鸦传媒� said Gardiner.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
