Sharpe looks to have big presence in Canes Camp

By Lethbridge Herald on August 31, 2023.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Will Sharpe chats with Luke Cozens during a training camp game at the Enmax Centre on Thursday.

Offensive defenceman Will Sharpe is in his second training camp with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and has the focus of being offensive and making plays.

“And just kind of use my tools that I am very good at ,and just be physical, and just kind of be a big presence out there on the ice, create some offence and make some good plays on defence,” said Sharpe.

The 16-year-old’s offensive output is not deceiving as last year with the Yale Academy U18 team he had 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) and the year before he racked up 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists with the Academy’s U15 team.

“Yeah, well, you know it’s not very common that there’s lots of d-men that are very offensive  like myself,” said Sharpe.

“But it’s what I like, it’s what I do, it’s what I’m good at, so I just use that to the best of my ability and it works pretty good.”

He wants to work on making a smarter play and not rapidly getting rid of the puck.

“Like if I’m tired, just like really taking that extra second (and) that extra step to really make that good play instead of just getting rid of it when I’m tired,” said Sharpe.

After Thursday’s first game at training camp, Sharpe thought the pace was good.

“It’s pretty quick,” he said.

“You know, it’s nice. I like the speed of the game. It’s not too slow, it’s not too fast if I’m being honest. But it’s still a pretty good pace and it’s a pretty good competition out there.”

He hopes to feed off of the older guys at camp.

“Because they’ve been here for longer and it’s just getting information from them and advice and stuff is always good,” he said.

“And then I feel like from last year, I already know a bunch of stuff about camp and what it’s going to be like. So, I think I’m pretty good and I got some help from all the older guys on this team.”

In order to crack the opening night roster, he know he’ll have to work his hardest.

“I got to show the (team)that I belong here, and I got to just use my tools to the best of my ability, and come and just work my hardest at all times and hope I crack that roster,” said Sharpe.

Sharpe was selected 11th overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.