The WHL preseason has started for a few teams and that will be the case for the Winnipeg ICE in five days time.
For the past four days, the newly relocated organization has been preparing for that tilt.
The team’s main camp started off the ice on Wednesday with weight training and fitness testing.
On Thursday, it was time to get on the ice as the veterans looked to show why they should remain with the team and for the rookies, it was about showing why they should be there now, not later.
The list of camp players included Matthew Savoie, who most believe will go as the top player picked in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Conor Geekie also took part in his first WHL camp, after he was taken second overall this past May in the WHL Bantam Draft.
The young superstars joined the likes of Connor McClennon who helped Team Canada earn a silver medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Due to his rehab, Peyton Krebs was unable to participate and goaltender Jesse Makaj also didn’t take part in camp.
Prior to Sunday’s Showcase Game, the players battled for the Jarret Stoll Cup.
If you didn’t recall, from 1998-2002, Stoll played 237 regular-season games for the then Kootenay ICE. In that time, he put up 281 points.
That included a 106-point season in the 2000-01 season. Stoll also had 50 points in his playoff time with the ICE.
Now back to Winnipeg and this year’s Jarret Stoll Cup Champions was Team 1 as they doubled up Team 3 in the final, 8-4.
McClennon, Chase Hartje and Nathan Airey were among the members of Team 1.
Training camp will end on Sunday, but not before the Showcase.
At 5:00 p.m. at the RINK Training Centre, Team Black will take on Team White and if you’re under 12, you get in for free. Anyone over that pays just $5.
Gage Alexander and Will Gurski will be the two goalies on Team Black. The team also includes Matthew Savoie, Logan Danis and Anson McMaster, just to name a few.
Team White will have Daniel Hauser and Duncan McGovern as their goalies.
The matchup will also see the #1 and #2 draft pick go head to head. Conor Geekie is on Team White.
Geekie will be joined by dynamic defencemen Carson Lambos and recent Import Draft selection, Nino Kinder.
Not dressing for the game will be Michal Teply, Connor McClennon and Isaac Johnson, just to make a few.
Check out the full rosters below:
After this, Winnipeg will prepare for their preseason opener on Friday, September 6, in Brandon.
