The Powell River Kings opened training camp on Aug. 26 with 41 recruits and high expectations for the upcoming season.
Last week was a busy one for the Kings as they wound up their hockey school and then shifted the focus to putting recruits through their paces.
Close to 200 fans came out to scrimmage on Friday evening (Aug. 27) and most were impressed with the size and speed of the players.
Three returning Kings, Chad Niddery, Andrew Pettitt and Carter Shin-karuk, did not play. A speedy forward who missed five games and the playoffs last year with an injury, Shinkaruk cheered on the team from his home in Calgary. He is on his skates and itching to get back into action.
"I'm feeling great and I should be cleared by game one," he said. "It's good to be out on the ice with the guys in Powell River. This is the year to go one game further, and we're hoping to get a ring this year."
After Friday's scrimmage, the team travelled to Gibsons to take on Coquitlam Express in a Saturday afternoon game on Aug. 28.
The Kings' roster was mainly made up of rookies with a few players from last year's team.
Powell River opened the scoring on a goal by Ryan Elliot, but fell behind 3-1 by the end of the first period.
Neither team scored in the second frame, but Coquitlam extended the lead to 4-1 before Klay Kachur answered with two goals to make the final 4-3.
"The team looks good. We have a lot of speed and I think we have a very mature group," said assistant coach Geoff Grimwood. "A lot of our rookies are 18 and 19 as opposed to 16 and 17, so there's a maturity to the team, which I like."
Action returned to Hap Parker Arena Sunday for an entertaining Green and White game that ended with a 3-2 shootout win for the Green Team on a five-hole move by sniper Mike Sones.
Veteran Jason Yee left the ice sporting a mouse under his eye, but also a smile as he gave his early opinion of the team.
"There's no doubt that we're building for a national championship," he said. "Along with good returning guys, the new recruits look very promising."
After winning back-to-back coastal championships, there's a very businesslike feel to the camp.
