The Saskatoon Blades are doing something they haven’t done in many years with the start of their training camp Thursday at SaskTel Centre.

The Bridge City Bunch have 38 prospects, aged 15 and 16 only, on the ice under the watchful eye of head coach Brennan Sonne and his staff…plus the hockey operations and scouting staff, led by President and G-M Colin Priestner who explained to me why go with a Young Guns day to start…..

The rest of the 73 total players expected to report will join in Friday. Thursday’s group is split into two teams…Brennan and Meagan, the names of the children of late equipment and dressing room assistant Bobby Kirkness. Once the whole group starts scrimmages, the four teams…named after Blue and Gold Alumni Nolan Maier, Warren Peters, Ryan Keller and Derek Hulak…will battle for the Kirkness Cup. All practice and scrimmages are open to the public now through Sunday. Following is Les Lazaruk’s complete training camp interview with Colin Priestner plus the training camp schedule, courtesy the Saskatoon Blades…..

Schedule and Rosters for 2022 Training Camp presented by Motion Fitness

SASKATOON, SK – The Saskatoon Blades 2022 training camp, presented by Motion Fitness, will run from Thursday, September 1st until Sunday, September 4th.

73 players are attending camp this year. Players drafted in the 2021 Prospect Draft were unable to attend camp last year due to the draft taking place after the start of the season.

Players from both the 2021 and 2022 Prospect Draft’s will be attending camp for the first time together. The 2006 and 2007 players will be on the ice the first day by themselves and split into separate teams. Team Brennan and Team Meagan will both have a single practice each on Thursday before playing in the evening.

The names for the teams on the first day are inspired by the children of the late Bobby Kirkness.

On the second day, the teams will be re-organized and all players attending camp will be slotted into four separate teams. The teams Friday threw Sunday are named after Blades Alumni which include Maier, Peters, Keller, and Hulak. See detailed rosters for training camp below.

From Friday to Sunday, all four teams will play for the Kirkness Cup. Games will start Friday evening with the first game scheduled for 4:15 pm. The Kirkness Championship game will serve as the official wrap-up for training camp, and is scheduled for 12 pm on Sunday.

See schedule below:

Thursday, September 1st

10 am – 12 pm | Young guns 06/07 Camp Registration (Heights, Weights)
12 pm – 1 pm | Team Brennan Practice
1:30 pm | Team Brennan Seminar
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm | Team Meagan Practice
2:45 pm | Team Meagan Seminar

Break

7 pm | Team Brennan vs. Team Meagan Scrimmage*

Friday, September 2nd

Sidewalk Sale Open: 12 pm – 6 pm

9 am | Main Camp Registration 05-02’s (Heights, Weights)
10:15 am – 11 am | Team Maier Practice
11:15 am – 12 pm | Team Peters Practice
12:15 pm – 1 pm | Team Keller Practice
1:15 pm – 2 pm | Team Hulak Practice

Break

4:15 pm – 5:30 pm | Team Maier vs. Team Peters Scrimmage*
5:45 pm – 7 pm | Team Keller vs. Team Hulak Scrimmage*

Saturday, September 3rd

Sidewalk Sale Open: 10 am – 4 pm

10 am – 11:15 am | Team Keller vs. Team Maier Scrimmage*
11:30 am – 12:45 pm | Team Peters vs. Team Hulak Scrimmage*

Break

4:15 pm – 5:30 pm | Team Maier vs. Team Hulak Scrimmage*
5:45 pm – 7 pm | Team Peters vs. Team Keller Scrimmage*

Sunday, September 4th

The Frozen Pond Open: 10 am – 2 pm

9 am – 10:15 am | Kirkness Cup 3rd Place Game

Meetings with players

12 pm – 1:15 pm | Kirkness Cup Championship Game

Meetings with players

The Saskatoon Blades captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere will not be participating in this year’s Bobby Kirkness Cup. De La Gorgendiere is still recovering from season ending surgery. The veteran defenceman is in Saskatoon and is hoping to be ready for the home opener on September 24^th.

De La Gorgendiere is entering his fifth season with the Blades. The defenceman registered 45 points in 54 games while collecting 4 goals and 41 assists in the 2021-22 WHL regular season.

All practices and games will take place at SaskTel Centre and are open to the public. Training Camp will coincide with the Blades annual Sidewalk Sale, which will take place in front of SaskTel Centre. The Frozen Pond will also be open on Sunday between 10 am to 2 pm.

Training Camp will end on Sunday, September 4th with the annual Kirkness Cup Championship Game in memory of the late Bobby Kirkness.

Rosters:

Thursday |

Friday-Sunday |