As a 15-year-old last year, Michael Bell of Kitimat made a huge impression at the Western Hockey League training camp of the Victoria Royals. He made his way to the main camp before he was released just prior to the team's intrasquad game.
With a new coach (Dave Lowry), general manager (Cam Hope) and director of player personnel (Grant Armstrong) on board with the Royals, Bell will have to do it all over again as rookie camp began Thursday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
"Last year at rookie camp, I took a blind-side hit and they wanted me to stop playing,'' said Bell, who has beefed up to 200 pounds on his 6-foot frame. "I felt okay after the hit and I went back on the ice. Marc [former coach and general manager Habscheid] said that it showed a lot of character and he kept me around.
"That was a great experience and this time I'm here to make the team.''
Bell played in the sa国际传媒 Major Midget Hockey League last year with the Prince George-based Cariboo Cougars. In 34 games, he had five goals and seven assists.
"I had a decent year as a first-year midget,'' said Bell. "I didn't have a lot of ice time as the coaches made you earn it.
"My strengths as a player are playmaking and my vision on the ice. For me to be a better player, I have to be more physical.
"Last week, I attended the Cougars' evaluation camp and it will probably take me another week or two to be at the top of my skating game.''
Armstrong, who has been watching all of the sessions with his scouting staff, along with Lowry and Hope, says Bell has to work on a few aspects of his game.
"Michael [Bell] is close to being able to contribute at the WHL level,'' said Armstrong. "The most important thing for him is to be more consistent every time he is on the ice. He has a big body and he has to use his size and strength to take the puck to the net and then shoot off the rush. We are looking for him to win the battles down low and then have the ability to identify what to do with the puck.''
When the main camp begins on Monday at Saveon-Foods Memorial Centre, Armstrong expects players like 2011 bantam draft picks Bell, Ryan Gagnon and Joe Hicketts to be pressing the veterans for spots. Bell, Gagnon and Hicketts all attended the recent Team Pacific Under-17 camp. In November, Team Pacific (compiled of players from Alberta and sa国际传媒) will be selected to take part in the 10-team World Under-17 Challenge.
"Right now, what I'm seeing is that a lot of players are lacking confidence,'' said Armstrong. "That will change once they get to main camp. Dave [Lowry] will give them some good coaching and they will push and contend for spots on the team.''
There are 148 players at the rookie camp, divided into eight teams. Today's scrimmage sessions start at 8 a.m. and end at 10: 15 p.m. All sessions are free of charge to the public.
The Royals are expecting between 80 and 100 players for the main camp and those scrimmage sessions go from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5: 15 p.m. to 10: 15 p.m. The annual intrasquad game is Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Saveon-Foods Memorial Centre. Admission is by donation.
