Training Camp Begins

This morning the 08/09 hockey season officially began. Day one consists of a lot of paperwork and protocol and some strength testing in the gym. Everyone was split into 3 teams and told to arrive at separate times, in order to keep the lines down. For the players that were not here last week physicals were done first thing. They are required in order to make sure that you are healthy and fit enough to start the season. After the physicals there were pictures and video to take that they use in the team media and up on the scoreboard during and after games. It feels weird when they tell you how to stand and where to look but it looks cool once they add in background and all the effects. Then it was down to the weight room to go through the 8 strength and flexibility testing stations. They test things like height, weight, body fat, vertical, flexibility, core, upper and lower body strength. Once that was done all players fill out their tax and immigration paperwork. All together it took about 5 hours, and they provided an excellent lunch at the end for everyone involved. Tomorrow we get started with a practice. If it is anything like the first day that the rookies had last week it will be very difficult.

For those of you who have not seen the Caps new practice facility it is first class all the way. Two rinks give plenty of room and one of the rinks has enough seating for a couple hundred to watch a game. The locker room set up is the nicest I have ever seen and is perfectly set up.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch the Caps rookies play the Flyers rookies and it was quite a game for the Caps. They played very well and were relentless on the puck for the entire game. Their speed and aggressive play forced the Flyers to take a number of penalties and the power play was clicking. All 3 goaltenders were excellent and the line of Bouchard, Pinizotto, and Perrault were fun to watch and dominant. It was nice to watch an actual game with systems and most importantly contact. Adding contact is what makes it a hockey game and it looked very different from the shinny hockey that I have been playing since last April.

Tonight we have a team dinner at 6pm to go over the club's rules and expectations for the year. There is a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy coming from everybody right now and I am excited to finally get started!