Canes hit the ice for training camp with sense of excitement

By Lethbridge Herald on August 31, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes' defenceman Chase Pauls tries to skate past the check of Hayden Ironshirt during a training camp game on Thursday at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Seventy-nine players hit the ice while new coach Bill Peters watched from off the ice to open up the 2023 Lethbridge Hurricanes training camp at the Enmax Centre on Thursday.

“Yeah, you know what, it’s special, said Peters.

“It’s an exciting time. I’m happy for all the young guys. I got a lot of feedback from the coaches that have been here, right. They’re excited and seen the improvement and work the guys have put in this past summer. So now they get to show off all weekend.”

Peters said this all came together real late, when asked about it being a whirlwind to set up training camp.

“I got into town Monday night and I didn’t do anything with  training camp,” said Peters.

“I’m going to be 100 per cent honest. The assistant coaches have done a wonderful job setting this all up. So this is their baby. I’m just going to observe players and get ready to go on the ice come Monday.”

Peters spoke about seeing training camp in a different view.

“Yeah, a different view, for sure,” said Peters.

“Definitely a different lens. Exciting in that’s a clean slate, right. I don’t know any of these players. I haven’t seen these players play other than a little bit. I’ve seen (Tristen) Doyle play in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League for NAX (Northern Alberta Xtreme) and I’ve seen (Chase) Pauls play in the Mac’s tournament years and years ago. So I haven’t seen him play at the Western Hockey League level. So just here with an open mind ready to evaluate them as they play and then get them into the preseason too. So that’s going to be an exciting time.”

Peters is not focusing on anything particular.

“They’re going to make good plays,” said Peters.

“I’ve seen the guys skate for a couple of days in kind of captains practices. Lots of pace, lots of skill, lots of guys to be excited about. So I think the future is bright for 2023-2024 and moving forward.”

Defenceman Joe Arntsen doesn’t think the team will worry much about whether it will be a good thing or a bad thing with eyes on the team with the new head coach.

“Yeah, I don’t think we’re going to really focus on it too much,” said Arntsen.

“We’re just  going to do our thing on the ice and worry about that. You know, he was in the NHL for a reason and the guys are really excited for that. So I think that’s all we’re going to focus on right now.”

Arntsen said obviously it’s exciting times to be back.

“You know it’s always a long summer,” said Arntsen.

“You know, the last few weeks go by slow when you’re itching to get back here. You know it feels like I’ve been to quite a few camps now and every year, you know I seem to get more excited to come back.”

Arntsen is excited to be a leader.

“You know, I’ve been in the league for quite a while now,” said Arntsen.

“You know, just pass on, my knowledge to the young guys, so you know they can kind of get a head start in it and you know feel comfortable coming into Lethbridge and moving away from home for the first time.”

This year’s 14th overall draft pick, Dayne Beuker, comes into camp having had a career year in  the Saskatchewan AA Hockey League this with 47 goals, 56 assists for 103 points and finished second in leading scoring.

“Oh, it’s a great culture here and very excited to get it going,” said Beuker.

“(It is) just awesome that I can show my skills.”

His focus is to show his talent, make an impression and learn from the older guys.

“I can do everything,” said Beuker.

“Whatever coach needs me to do, I’ll do it.”

Miguel Marques is coming in off his rookie season where he had 20 points in 59 regular season games and added an assist in four playoff games.

“Yeah I think last year was a very important season obviously, (and) (getting) your feet wet in the league obviously and you know what to expect coming into the second season here,” he said.

“But yeah very excited to get started and I hope that I have higher standards for myself obviously, and I want to check all those off ,and then help this team win some games, and get to the playoffs and obviously make some noise there.”

Marques sees camp as very good.

“We have a lot of young guys coming in but they’re all very good players and they all deserve to be here. So it’s going to be very competitive,” said Marques.

The  rest of the training camp schedule can be found at https://chl.ca/whl-hurricanes/2023-enmax-training-camp-schedule-announced.

Camp will end with the Red vs. White intrasquad game on Sunday at noon.