Canes break ice for training camp

By Lethbridge Herald on August 28, 2024.

Herald File Photo Lethbridge Hurricanes coach Bill Peters works the bench during a game on Dec. 29, 2023. Peters is going through his second training camp with the team this week and will look for growth from within the players.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes hit the ice for the start of training camp today with the hopes of seeing players grow within and seeing where new young players fit in to help build this season’s roster.

Head coach Bill Peters wants  to see the growth amongst players at camp.

“We need growth from within,” said Peters.

“I’ll use Eddy (Brayden Edwards) as an example. The growth he had from his 18-year-old season to his 19-year-old season, we need that. We need that amongst our young guys, we need that amongst even our veteran guys. You look at a guy like Miggy (Miguel Marques), now Miggy’s been drafted, and now he’s got to take another step, and he’s got to play with pace and he’s got to learn the pro game a little bit when he goes to camp (and) then he’s got to come back and keep that standard very high.”

Peters is excited about the team’s depth, noting that the team is deep in net and hard decisions will have to come with  overagers.

“And then just evaluate players as they move along and make sure (we are) rewarding the guys that are playing hard and doing it right,” said Peters.

Peters will keep an open mind when it comes to the younger guys in camp.

“I haven’t seen any of them live per se,” said Peters.

“So I’m  going to keep an open mind and just  make sure I’m watching the scrimmages and do a good job there.”

The Canes will have to fill the void in camp left behind by now former captain Joe Arntsen.

“That leaves a hole no doubt but there’s guys ready to pick up the slack and play in those minutes,” said Peters.

Marques and Harrison Meneghin were selected in the NHL draft last June, while Edwards and Landen Ward were invited to development camps this past summer.

“(I’m) really happy for a guy like Eddy to get invited to Detroit’s  camp, that would have been a real boost for him I think too. I think he has another level to get to,” said Peters.

“Landen Ward is a guy who plays really hard and has real upside to his game too (and a) very good hockey sense.”

Peters thought it was only positive things for Ward to go to Ottawa’s camp and then going back to rookie camp.

Edwards thinks this year’s training camp is harder to get the players in better shape and more prepared for the start of the season.

“We want to have a really good start and start off on the right foot,” said Edwards.

“I think just everyone dialed into training camp will help us do that.”

Marques said it’s going to be tough, when asked about what the camp’s different format is going to be like.

“It’s obviously a set up to make sure we’re conditioned and stuff like, so we start the season off on a strong note,” said Marques.

“This year’s about winning and we need to start off the season the right way and I think Bill’s done a good job of … setting the foundation to the start.”

There are 53 players split into two teams and they will get a practice and skills session and will scrimmage one another each day.

Training camp runs today through Sunday with ice sessions beginning at 9 a.m. each day.

 The full training camp schedule  is at http://www.chl.ca/whl-hurricanes/article/2024-enmax-training-camp-schedule/.