Training Camp Day 1

It was finally time, the Icehawks hit the ice for the first time this season to start training camp for the 2008-2009 season. The morning started with drills and conditioning, then ended with a hour long scrimmage game that was refereed by Larry Sterling. Sterling and Jamie Carroll did not play in the scrimmage game. The scrimmage was won by the white team 2-0. Tab Lardner and Jeremy Tucker scored the two goals. The training camp seemed loose even after losing two veterans to retirement before camp started.

Offense: They seem to have a lot of speed on offense. Passing was pretty good for day 1. They did a lot of passing drills up and down the ice and defiantly were looking better as the day went on. Tab Lardner scored a goal in the scrimmage so it looks like he is ready to pick up where he left off last season. Other then that, offense was not a big deal just a lot of drills and trying to set up lines for the start of the season.

Defense: Defense was actually very impressive. They did a few defensive drills and they seemed very good. Guys who stuck out were newcomers Daniel Tetrault and Ian Turner. Returning defenseman Derek Merlini also stuck out to me. At first he was very bad in puck movement but as the day went on he got better and also laid some good hits which is what he'll need to do if he wants to make it. B.J Adams looked good. Nobody from defense really looked terrible even though there was a few spills which will clean itself up as camp goes on.

Goaltending: Larry Sterling looks like he is ready for a career year. His glove was quicker then ever and made a couple of nice saves. Sterling did not play in the scrimmage but did take part in drills and warm ups. Mike Minard who will back up Sterling in the season looked very good. He was huge: his listed height and weight (6'3 220 pounds) did not do him justice. He was an absolute brick wall and only Jason Selleke was able to figure him out near the end of drills. Rookies Mike Stone and Andre Laperriere weren't impressive but did have their moments. Stone did well in the scrimmage but did not impress in drills and Laperriere was good in drills but gave up the 2 goals in scrimmage, getting beat on his glove side by Jeremy Tucker to end the scrimmage. He did however seem to hurt his glove hand after getting whacked with a stick before he gave up the 2 goals. He shook it off and stayed in. Manon Rheaume did not do well in drills, she was obvisously and clearly undersized especially being paired up with Mike Minard but she did hold her own well in the scrimmage making a couple of saves and not giving up any goals.

Training camp continues tomorrow at 10 AM at McMorran Arena. If you can't make it make sure to check here to see what happened.

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