2015 Spring Camp Opens Today
Regina, Saskatchewan – Regina Pats prospects from the 1998 to 2000 age groups descend on Regina this weekend for the 2015 edition of the Pats’ Spring Camp. With 34 players attending, this is the largest prospects camp the Pats have held for a number of years. Twenty-four of the prospects will be eligible to earn a place on the 2015-16 roster. After a whirlwind 2014 training camp, it’s an opportunity for Head Coach and GM John Paddock to take a focused look at the Pats’ prospect group.
“(At camp) we had three days and some kids were gone. We’re going to see where they’re at, we’re going to get a read on them and it will affect our decisions to the plus and the negative come August. It’s going to be a real informative session for them as parents and kids and for us as well.”
At the other end of the spectrum are the prospects, mostly made up of the Pats’ 2015 draft class, getting their first taste of a WHL camp. Paddock emphasizes for these prospects it’s about learning.
“It’s more information than anything else. There’s nothing more than to be able to put a name to the face and get an idea of how they play the game. What they do with their feet or another individual, are they in shape or another individual, are they strong? It’s just a gathering information setup. I know some will feel pressure, but there’s no game being played here. There’s no contest, there’s no scorekeeping.”
One of those new prospect who will draw the eyes of many is 2015 first round pick Dawson Barteaux. The Foxwarren, MB product was selected 14th overall by the Pats in the most recent draft. He’s looking forward to the chance to get acquainted with the organization.
“I think it’s going to a great camp, great to meet all the other draft picks and everyone involved with the Pats. I’m hoping I can play some good hockey this weekend and show that I was deserving of being selected in the first round. Show (the Pats) they made the right decision.”
Barteaux will have plenty of chances over the coming years to show the Pats they made the correct call at the podium. For now, he’s happy with the opportunity to measure himself against and learn from some of the older prospects who will be at camp.
“(The older prospects) give me a challenge and I’ll be able to meet them. The opportunity to ask them questions will be great.”
It can be tough for players to come into a camp with a new organization where they don’t know any of their peers. Luckily for Barteaux, he’ll be skating with a teammate in Mackenzie Belinski and some long-time friends.
“I know Jack Lenchyshyn and I’ve played AAA with Lukas (Sillinger) all my life, he’s a good friend of mine. It’s great to know you won’t be the only one you know there and it will be a lot of fun.”
Paddock knows this weekend is an important opportunity for the Pats to put their best foot forward for prospects like Barteaux, Belinski, Lenchyshyn and Sillinger.
“It’s the first step, like buying a house,” explained Paddock. “You go into a house and it makes an impression on you. These kids, 10 or 12 of them are coming completely new to us so it’s a chance for us as an organization to lay the groundwork of what we’re about and what we like to do. I think it’s very important.”
The players check in Friday afternoon at the Brandt Centre before an organizational orientation session and fitness testing. They hit the Cooperators Arena ice tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with a second session at 11:15 a.m.
