Kings expect hard work in training camp

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The hockey season is fast approaching and now it will come down to who works the hardest in the training camp that starts on Sept. 7, to earn their spot on the Wheatland Kings’ roster.

Players have already expressed their eagerness to participate in the camp and begin honing their skills, head coach Joel Robinson said.

“I know some of them are getting the off–season out of the way and just realizing that the season is fast approaching,” said Robinson. “I also had a lot of guys come to me and ask me when camp starts. It’s a different mentality, the guys that are coming back. I think there’s about 10 of them that I talk to that are coming to camp for sure. That’s nice to know I have a core group to build off of this year.”

The Kings staff will be looking for athletes at the camp that will compete, work hard and not require time off.

“I expect them to work as hard in training camp as they would in a practice or regular season,” said Robinson. “I want a guy that’s going to work for me in between the whistles and not a guy that’s going to be stupid after the whistles or that’s not going to be a team guy. I’m going to build a squad that’s completely team first this year.”

A big part of the team-first approach will be to have the veterans step up and act as role models to help the players along on and off the ice. Robinson said he is looking for players that have consistency on a nightly basis and have the same mentality to allow the team to have a possible championship run.

He added that he wants to develop and move players on to the next level.

“I want to move a kid on,” said Robinson. “For me to move on as a coach and you get recognized, I always still (have to) move kids on. This isn’t something about me … I more or less want to do this for the guys that are in that dressing room.”

Defenseman Blake Bishop is looking forward to a new coaching staff and likes what Robinson has put into place so far going into main camp. The team will be picked based on their hard work in on-ice drills and off-ice dry land.

“I’m ready for the season,” said Bishop. “I feel comfortable Joel’s going to put together a great team. I have all my confidence in him.”

Bishop knows that being a returning player this year he will have to provide a leadership role for the younger players.

“Just show them the ropes,” he said. “If they have questions, help them out. (If) they make a bad play, just give them some constructive criticism.”

Training camp will run from Sept. 7-10 at the Strathmore Family Centre.