After disappointment in some aspects of the first full day of camp, things got better for the Soo Greyhounds.
The pace was much more pleasing for the Greyhounds brass on day three of training camp on Thursday.
Better ice conditions at the Essar Centre on Thursday helped improve the tempo as the team prepares for its annual Red/White game on Friday night.
“The ice was a lot better, there were some issues with the ice and the air conditioning in the rink that made things difficult in practices and in the games,” Bannister said. “The pace of the game slowed down because the ice wasn’t at the quality that you would like.”
Bannister went on to say he felt the pace picked up Thursday morning as did the intensity.
In addition to a better pace, Bannister credited many of the young players in camp who are battling for limited roster spots.
“The kids are coming in here and fighting for spots,” Bannister said. “There are guys that last year didn’t play a lot and you like to see more out of them because they’re going to be fighting for ice time as the season starts. We need to have guys take some steps here to fill some holes for us.”
Bannister felt the young players were showing more of a comfort level on Thursday.
Among the new players making an impact was fifth round pick Cole MacKay.
“Cole was really good in the development camp,” Bannister said of the local product. “He was probably one of the surprises for us, being a mid-round pick. He’s made some strides this summer. He looks quicker on the ice. He plays at a pace that we like to play at. He seems to find the areas on the ice to get the puck. He has a lot of puck-touches and he gets the puck off too. He can shoot the puck.”
Thursday’s evening scrimmage saw many of the Greyhounds veterans have the night off. A trio of regulars, sophomores Calvin Martin and Jacob LeGuerrier and third-year blueliner Anthony DeMeo, were the lone players with OHL experience to suit up.
“It was a good pace for the group that was out there,” Bannister said of the evening scrimmage. “Some of the kids really stood out.”
Start time for Friday’s annual Luke Williams Memorial Red and White game is set for 7:07 p.m.
“It’s the last opportunity for some of the kids to impress,” Bannister said of the game. “I expect the intensity and tempo.”
There will be little turnaround time for the team as the Greyhounds will be on the road Saturday for an exhibition game in Saginaw against the Spirit. It marks the opener of a home-and-home set that wraps up Sunday afternoon at the Essar Centre in a 4:07 p.m. start.