Notebook: Training Camp Underway

SN photographer Marc Henwood took some fantastic shots during tonight’s rookie game. You can check out the full album on Facebook.

HLINKA TOURNEY BEGINS

The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup under-18 tournament got underway today.

Oliver Felixson’s Team Finland defeated Team USA 5-1. Felixson was Saint John’s top pick in this year’s CHL Import Draft.

Meanwhile, Frantisek Hrdinka - Saint John’s second pick in this year’s import draft – and the Czech Republic fell 3-1 to Team Canada.

Finland plays Slovakia tomorrow while the Czechs play Switzerland.

PHILLIPS ADDED

There was a late addition to Saint John’s training camp roster as the team added defenseman Nick Phillips, a Grand Bay-Westfield native.

The 19-year-old has spent the past two seasons in the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League. Last season with the Campbellton Tigers he registered one goal and 14 assists in 46 games.

Prior to playing in the MHL, Phillips played with the Saint John Vito’s.

The addition gives Saint John 60 players in attendance at this year’s training camp.

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE

Tickets are now on sale for Saint John’s pre-season opener against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Thursday.

Tickets are free of charge but must be picked up at the Harbour Station box office. Tickets went on sale to the general public this morning.

Game time on Thursday is 7 p.m. at Harbour Station. The game should offer fans a first look at some new faces and a look at some familiar faces.

BOWERS UPDATE

Shane Bowers has been officially cleared to play for #Waterloo in #USHL via @THNRyanKennedy. He skated with a group of pros today.

— John Moore (@rinkrant) August 11, 2015

NEW YEAR FOR COOPER

Former Sea Dogs forward Oliver Cooper is entering his fifth season in the QMJHL and third with the Charlottetown Islanders.

As The Guardian explains in an article on Cooper today, he enters Islanders camp as one of the team’s four 20-year-olds with forward Quinn O'Brien and defencemen Guillaume Rioux-Legault and Dexter Weber.

Cooper is one of three former Sea Dogs on the Islanders along with defenseman Will Thompson and Alexandre McQuaid.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation