Rookies get education on life with team
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, August 23, 2007
It's back-to-school time for the Regina Pats.
The WHL club opens rookie camp today at White City arena, where 68 youngsters are expected to receive a crash course on life in the WHL.
"That's what it's all about, giving them an opportunity to meet some of the older guys and getting experience in terms of how things are done," offered Pats GM Brent Parker.
"Even watching the vets skate, those are all a big part of understanding. We always tell them, 'It's a starting point.' If you think you're in good shape and you get here and say, 'Wow, a lot of guys are in better shape,' there's your starting point. You understand where you have to be and where you have to go to have success at this level."
The Pats' rookie roster -- 22 16-year-olds and 46 15-year-olds -- includes a mixture of players who have been drafted or listed by the Pats. The majority, however, are simply invited to take part on a tryout basis.
No more than a small handful of the 16-year-olds from rookie camp will have a chance to crack Regina's lineup this season. Some of the early favourites include forwards Brett Miller of North Battleford and Garrett Mitchell of Regina, as well as defenceman Alex Pym of Winnipeg. Those players were Regina's first-, second- and third-round picks, respectively, in the 2006 WHL bantam draft.
The 15-year-olds in camp won't be eligible for full-time WHL duty until next season.
The Pats' coaches will guide the rookies through a series of practices and scrimmages, as well as off-ice orientation, over the next three days. Rookie camp concludes Saturday with a Prospects Game, after which approximately a dozen players will be invited to take part in main camp, beginning later that day in White City.
"A big part of it is being with their peer group and to have that chance to compete at that age," noted Parker. "It gives you a better feel for where they're at (in their development). The second-year guys maybe not as much because you want to see them with the older guys too and see if they can handle that grind of playing with the older players."
The Pats are pleased with the response they received after sending out letters of invitation to rookie camp earlier this summer. It can be a tough sell, since some players are invited to camps by multiple teams.
Regina, however, has become a more appealing destination over the past two seasons due to the club's recent taste of success and reputation as a team on the rise.
"I think we've seen over the last couple years that it has become a little easier in our recruiting," added Parker. "People want to be a part of things here now. We certainly haven't had the struggles we had for a few years. It was a real challenge for the better part of three or four years. It has reversed a little bit in terms of our fortunes. We really didn't have too many issues (this season)."
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SCHEDULE
Regina Pats
Rookie Camp Schedule
(At White City arena)
Today
9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. -- Red practice.
10:30 a.m.-11:45a.m. -- Blue practice.
Noon-1:15 p.m. -- White practice.
1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m. -- Vets ice.
6 p.m.-6:45 p.m. -- Red vs. White scrimmage.
7 p.m.-7:45p.m. -- Red vs. Blue scrimmage.
8 p.m.-8:45 p.m. -- White vs. Blue scrimmage.
Friday
9 a.m.-9:45 p.m. -- White vs. Red scrimmage.
10 a.m.-10:45 p.m. -- White vs. Blue scrimmage.
11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. -- Red vs. Blue scrimmage.
12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. -- Goalie session.
1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m. -- Vets ice.
6 p.m.-6:45 p.m. -- Blue vs. White scrimmage.
7 p.m.-7:45 p.m. -- Blue vs. Red scrimmage.
8 p.m.-8:45 p.m. -- White vs. Red scrimmage.
Saturday
10 a.m. to noon -- Rookie Prospects Game.
2007 Training Camp Thread
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