Dog Days of Summer roll on

As the hockey-less days of summer roll on there are some updates Ice-wise.

Camp opens August 31 with weigh-in's and whatnot, less than four weeks away. Some players will be filtering back into town over the next few weeks as many help out with the various hockey schools in Cranbrook and Kimberley. Eric Benoit will be instructing at Ice-alum Colin Sinclair's Hockey in the Rockies camp starting August 8 while Ice assistant coach Jerry Bancks will run his very successful school, the Alpine Hockey School (going on so long that I went to it for a few summers some 30 years ago), starting August 22 in Kimberley.

The biggest news for the Ice this week - at least a former member - was the Brandon Wheat Kings signing former Ice coach Cory Clouston to a two-year deal as owner/GM/President and now former coach Brad McCrimmon removed one of his hats and placed it on Clouston. This came out of left field for me as I consider Brandon one of the small-market franchises in the WHL and it was a big commitment to hire a former NHL coach that comes with a ton of success but also with a bigger contract, likely in the low six-figure range. Mr. Drinnan reported that the Wheat Kings season ticket sales for this season stand at 2320. Last season they had over 3100 and averaged 4300 for home dates. So there's no question McCrimmon is looking to demonstrate to the fan-base that the best product on the ice starts from behind the bench.

Quiet in Iceland over the last month after the club dropped import Alex Kuveav after he signed in his home country of Russia. There's a couple of candidates out there import-wise for the club to list but it isn't exactly bursting and the status quo of no imports for this upcoming season will probably stand. Does the club lack offence? Loosing the likes of Eakin, King, McNabb, Boomer and Fraser says yes but again, developing the Rossignol's and Pearce's of the roster - at least giving them enough of a shot - isn't a bad philosophy. Unless you're a lights-out import, why not develop a 16 or 17-yr-old that will pay-off better dividends down the road at 19 and 20.

One of those players for development, Sam Reinhart, played with Team Bruins at the Provincial U-17 camp in Salmon Arm last week. Though Reinhart will likely get top-six minutes this season if he can handle it and almost isn't a prospect anymore. Also at the camp, which is a 42 player invite camp to determine the BC half (Alberta is the other half) of Team Pacific that will compete at the World U-17 Challenge this Christmas in Windsor, Ont, was Cranbrook's Brad Rebagliati, a goaltender with Team Bruins, and former Kimberley product Dryden Hunt, who calls Nelson home and played with the Major Midget Ice last season.

The Alberta program had their camp earlier in July. Ice prospects there included forwards Jaedon Desheneau, Luke Philp and Jesse Wood-Schatz, along with goaltender Wyatt Hoflin. Ryan Chynoweth, Jeff's son who was drafted out of Lethbridge last year by Everett, was also at the camp. Ryan relocated to Lethbridge for his last year of Bantam after coming up through CMHA.

The Saskatchewan and Manitoba programs make up Team Western. D Tanner Faith (Sask) along with D Cole DePape and F Jonothan Martin make up the Ice prospects looking for a shot with Team Western.

Hoflin, 16, should make a push for a spot between the pipes next month. It presents an interesting challenge for a club that's deep at the position. No word on Lieuwen signing with Buffalo yet but if that happens it will likely come during their training camp, leaving Brett Teskey, 18, MacKenzie Skapski, 17, and Hoflin in a three-way scrap for what might be one position (if Lieuwen signs or is dealt as an overager) or two. If the latter happens, do the Ice go with a 17 and 16-year-old, 18 and 16-year-old or 18 and 17-year-old in the nets? Easily the most watch-able battle of camp.

Ice season ticket sales are just south of the 2100 (last check 2085) mark and should ensure some thicker crowds at the Plex this season.

Couple of locals made the BC U-16 short-list that will compete for a spot on the team that will play at the 2011 U-16 Western Challenge with provincial teams from BC, AB, SK and MB in October. G Payton Lee (Giants draft pick), F Jake McLachlan (Red Deer List) and Sebastien Barrette (Blades draft pick) are all former Cranbrook Minor hockey players. McLachlan is from Fernie but played in Cranbrook from age 11.

Former Ice coach Ryan McGill, who was in the running for the Regina Pats job that went to Pat Conacher still hasn't found work as of yet... A couple of former Ice captains have signed pro deals. Nigel Dawes signed in Russia with the KHL's Barys-Astana. Jason Jaffray signed with the Winnipeg Jets, as did Ben Maxwell.

Another Ice alum, former GM Bob Tory - the Ams GM and part-owner the last decade - traded both of his goaltenders from last season. Drew Owsley, 20, to the PG Cougars for goalie Ty Rimmer, 19, this week and a couple of weeks back sent 17-year-old Chris Driedger to the Calgary Hitmen for a 3rd round Bantam pick. That leaves highly-touted 16-year-old Eric Comrie, the Ams first round pick in last year's Bantam draft, as a possible starter along with Rimmer. Comrie is the younger half-brother of former Ice forward Mike and the moves are now drawing comparison's to the last time Tory had a 16-year-old starter, Dan Blackburn with the Ice in 1999.

Max Reinhart was signed by the Calgary Flames but will almost assuredly play another season here. He'll get a long look with the Flames but can only play in the NHL or Junior as a 19-year-old. It does mean that this will be his last year in Junior and he should turn pro next season.

Speaking of the Flames, is this the year former Ice D John Negrin stays healthy enough to push for a spot on the big club?

My opening day roster:

Ismond M. Reinhart Czerwonka
Antilla Pearce McKinlay
Benoit Rossignol Hurley
Montgomery S. Reinhart J. Iron
Descheneau L. Philp

Forwards who will compete for a spot: The last three are on that list; Montogomery's role this season will have to be defined. He could be in tough if the club wants to go young and develop... Levi Cable, 17, Jonathan Martin, 16, and Sam Johnson, 17 (list player) will all have something to say about those spots.


Martin Leach
Dirk Paulsen
Neibrandt Simpson
Faith

D-men who will compete: Jeff Hubic, 17, has a real shot... Dylan Schellenberg, 17, also could make some noise. Two bigger list names, Micheal King and Matt Benning aren't coming and if history shows, GM Jeff Chynoweth isn't going to beg them to either, though both could likely make the club. King has committed to Colorado College for the 2012-13 season, though he wasn't drafted out of the BCHL's Westside Warriors this season when many thought he would be. Wonder if that hasn't any bearing on his future... Benning played with Spruce Grove in the AJHL last season but didn't have the break-out season many thought he would have.


Lieuwen
Skapski
Teskey
Hoflin

How the goaltending situation plays out will be interesting. I still think Lieuwen returns and then depending on what the return is could be dealt to a team looking for a number one tender to make a cup run. When the season begins I think Lieuwen will be here. All things being equal, Lieuwen stays to mentor the younger goaltender but with the three 20-year-old maximum they aren't equal. I don't know how the club get's around not developing their goaltending ranks with him in the lineup. Would be better fan-wise if he makes the Sabres AHL team and moves into pro hockey life. Would be better team wise if the club can deal him for prospects or picks if he's return and set the rebuild in motion. Tough situation. Without Lieuwen, I think Skapski could really challenge Teskey for the number one role.