Fitness testing leaves mark, cuts made as Red/White game looms

There were a lot of impressions to be made through two days of training camp for the Soo Greyhounds.

With roster decisions being made following day two on Thursday, the management of the Ontario Hockey League club said there’s been something to notice off the ice as well.

“We had a lot of guys that made improvements from last year, but we didn’t really have any separation in a good way,” Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis said. “Everyone came in in great shape.”

Raftis added that there appeared to be a camaraderie between the players, which doesn’t always happen during the fitness testing portion of camp.

“Guys were cheering each other on,” Raftis said. “Sometimes that can be a really quiet (thing) with everyone doing their business and staring at their shoes when they’re not up, but it was a really rowdy group.”

Among the returning players, Raftis said the fitness testing of second-year goaltender Landon Miller stood out.

“He just looks like an athlete now,” Raftis said. “He was kind of lanky guy that came in last year and sometimes guys kind of roll their eyes when goaltenders go into the fitness, but he just looks like a real athletic body now. It was really good to see him add that power to his big frame.

Both Raftis and coach John Dean credited the veteran players through the opening two days of camp for their approach overall to training camp.

“They’ve really made some of the young guys feel comfortable,” Raftis added.

Dean also said he was pleased with the play of the veteran players in camp.

“Everyone came back with the same character that they left with,” Dean said.

Dean added that he was also impressed with overage defenceman Caeden Carlisle’s approach in camp.

“His personality on and off the ice was incredible,” Dean said. “Off the ice, he makes everyone feel extremely welcome and he sets the tone for how we’re supposed to act as a Soo Greyhound, but also on the ice, he’s 20 and this is his fourth camp. It’s really easy to come here and mail it in. He knows he’s going to play, and he knows he’s going to get an opportunity to play big minutes for us, but he still goes out there and competes and sets an example.”

Following Thursday’s evening scrimmage, the Greyhounds released 13 players from camp.

Players no longer in camp include goaltenders Logan Heideman, Justin Cossais, and Mason Janicki; defencemen Alexander Kyriacou, Shea Crewson, and Sam Pye; and forwards Cade Kinnear, Chase Bailey-Reid, Aaron Dukeshire, Andrew Castiglione, Joshua Caloiero, Sydney Loreto, and Jordan McLeod.

Following Friday’s annual Red/White game, Rafts said the team will look to get down to between 25 and 30 players prior to Sunday’s exhibition game against the Sudbury Wolves.

The number will remain on the high side at that point as the team prepares to lose players to NHL prospect camps in the early part of September.