Training Camp, Day 3

We're just back from day 3 of Grizzlies training camp, and are thawing out by the space heater in our cozy cubicle. (Please pardon any typos resulting from cold fingers.) As was the case yesterday, we're going to upload pictures and videos later on, but thought we'd do a quick report on a few things just in case you're super curious.



*Once again, we want to throw out the disclaimer that we know only enough about hockey to like it. We've never played hockey or coached hockey or anything like that, so if this makes no sense, we apologize... but not profusely.



If you were one of the 10 or so people watching practice today you saw some fun stuff. Things were definitely more intense than they were yesterday as the team tries to get in game shape for a pre-season game this weekend. There were some breakaway drills with skaters going one-on-one with the goalie coming in from the defensive zone, and then what looked like some 2-on-1 drills for the defense. The goaltenders were on the ball and there were some good saves, including a couple of pretty catches they made look easy. Bonus.



The team worked on bringing the puck up ice through the neutral zone (we think) and did some passing drills (we think). For some reason, if you are on the non-ice side of the glass, whatever the coach is yelling sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher. We're guessing the ice has a magical effect because the players all seem to get what's going on.



Back on the magical ice, the team played 3-on-3 in front of the goalie for a while, and really went at each other. That was fun to watch - almost like real hockey, only with the rest of the team kneeling on the ice.


Our personal opinion is so far, so good. It's early, but the team seems to be meshing well together and most of the guys look to be in good shape. There were a few getting winded during some of the skating drills, but since we couldn't see their numbers, we can't rat them out. Still waiting on some players from Calgary. We heard that the AHL is just starting to release their players, so we should see them trickling in soon.


We picked up an updated roster sheet at the Acord Ice Center, but it neglected to list players' numbers so we can't tell who everyone is, even if we could read the tiny number on the back of their helmet. Here's the list though:

Goaltenders

Van Buskirk, Parker

Grumet-Morris, Dov

(It's apparently a requirement to have two last names to play goalie for the Grizz.)

Forwards

Caria, Matt

Clark, Wes

Dale, Jason

Guthrie, Shea

Guiterrez, Moises

Kinasewich, Ryan

May, Tom

Nikiforov, Vladimir

Pavli, Mark

Perry, Adam

Sixsmith, James

Thauwald, Scott

Defensemen

Bartley, Victor

Clarke, Matt

Friesen, Dustin

Maxwell, Tim

Sellars, Luke

Stoflet, Evan

Pictures and video later.


Go Grizzlies!