Some positives stem from scrimmages at Greyhounds camp (17 photos)

After fitness testing and practices took up the opening day, the Soo Greyhounds training camp shifted to scrimmages on Wednesday, giving the 56 players in camp their first opportunity to get into some game action.

For Greyhounds general manager Kyle Raftis, there were some positives from the first two scrimmages of camp after a long opening day on Tuesday.

“I thought they were good,” Raftis said of the scrimmages. “The second game was even a little crisper. Guys get a little more comfortable after the extra practice. It was a long day (Tuesday) but I was really happy overall with it.”

Raftis added that he was happy with the compete level.

“A lot of guys were trying to make plays,” Raftis said. “It wasn’t guys just trying to blend in. It was good to see.”

As the team looks to replace the scoring lost to the graduation of the likes of Morgan Frost and Keeghan Howdeshell, Raftis spoke of being pleased with the skill level shown by some of the young players in camp.

“It was really good,” Raftis said. “When you see the young guys out there trying to make plays and playing with a lot of confidence, which isn’t always easy as you get into a faster-paced environment with older players. It was good to see from a lot of young guys.”

Defenceman Jacob Holmes, the Greyhounds top pick in the OHL Priority Selection in April, had a good showing in his first scrimmage action.

“Holmes was really good (in the evening scrimmage),” Raftis said. “He looks a lot more comfortable. He was making plays and getting his shot through.”

In addition to Holmes, a pair of other 2019 picks showed well on day two of camp, including forward Marc Boudreau, the Greyhounds third round pick.

“There was a lot of compete out of him,” Raftis said of Boudreau. “He wasn’t taking a back seat to some of the older players, which was good.”

Jordan D’Intino, the Greyhounds fourth round pick in 2019, came to camp healthy after an injury cut into his playing time last season and at the Greyhounds development camp earlier this summer.

“D’Intino had a really strong game,” Raftis said. “He was a guy that missed a lot of time due to injury. Even at our development camp, he couldn’t play in the scrimmages, so it was good to see him back playing his game. He’s healthy now and he was impressive.”

The first cuts of camp are expected to come after Thursday’s evening scrimmage, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the GFL Memorial Gardens.

With 56 players in camp, Raftis said the team will cut the roster down to around 40 players, who will then compete in the annual Luke Williams Memorial Red/White game on Friday night.

Import forward Jaromir Pytlik is expected to join the team on Thursday. The Czech forward was traveling to Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday and is expected to be in town and join the team Thursday.

Returning goaltender Ethan Taylor didn’t skate in Wednesday’s evening scrimmage after taking a puck to the leg earlier in camp.

Raftis said the injury wasn’t serious.

Scrimmages on Thursday are set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.