It’s back to work for the defending Cyclone Taylor Cup champions.
The Richmond Sockeyes opening their main training camp this week at Minoru Arenas in preparation for the upcoming Pacific Junior Hockey League regular season.
It marks the first full campaign for head coach Brett Reusch who took over the duties in December.
The Sockeyes concluded a memorable campaign as provincial junior “B” champions on home ice after defeating the Delta Ice Hawks in the gold medal game last April. The result avenged a loss in the PJHL playoff semi-finals to their cross-river rival.
That championship team was loaded with graduating 20-year-olds — meaning plenty of new faces this season and a very competitive training camp for roster spots.
Inter-squad games got underway on Monday night and continue through until Friday at Minoru’s stadium rink, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Richmond then play its first pre-season game on Sunday when it travels to the Burnaby Winter Club to take on the Grandview Steelers. The Sockeyes will also entertain the Steelers on Aug. 23 at Minoru (7 p.m.) before closing out their exhibition schedule with a pair of games against the expansion White Rock Whalers, including a Aug. 30 tilt at Minoru.
The Ice Hawks visit Richmond for the regular season opener on Sept. 6.
Among the veterans who will returning is homegrown product and defenceman Matthew Brown who was earlier named the team captain.
Sockeyes GM Richard Petrowsky has been busy with trades and player signings, including the acquisition of Michael Araki-Young and Isiah Hendricks from the Delta Ice Hawks for Callum McDonald.
Player signings include 17-year-old defenceman Gabriel Sussenbacher-Fu and 16-year-old Brice Kemp — both from minor hockey in Richmond. Araki-Young is another local talent.
