The invitations are real, if not the camp in the strictest sense.
Goaltender Dylan Garand of Langford and former Victoria Grizzlies forward Alex Newhook will take part in Hockey sa国际传媒鈥檚 first ever virtual summer development camp ahead of a world junior championship.
The unusual arrangement for the camp July 27-31 is because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is likely the 2021 IIHF world junior tournament, set to begin Boxing Day in Edmonton and Red Deer, will go ahead but that is not yet certain.
鈥淓verything is a bit weird right now, especially not knowing about [the upcoming season and tournaments],鈥� said Garand, the Juan de Fuca minor hockey product, who plays in the WHL for the Kamloops Blazers.
鈥淚t looks like the [WHL] season will be delayed a bit. It鈥檚 out of my control, so I鈥檓 just focusing on the moment.鈥�
That includes current ice times at Westhills Arena in Langford and at the Shawnigan Lake School rink as per the first phase of the sa国际传媒 return-to-play sports regulations which allow for informal on-ice, on-field or on-court workouts in small groups.
Garand is among five goaltenders selected for the virtual sa国际传媒 junior camp, including Taylor Gauthier of the Prince George Cougars and Sebastan Cossa of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL and Tristan Lennox from Saginaw and Brett Brochu of London of the Ontario Hockey League.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to be recognized,鈥� Garand said.
There are 10 defencemen who will take part in the five-day camp, including Colorado Avalanche draft pick Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants of the WHL.
The quicksilver centre Newhook, who was the sa国际传媒 Hockey League top rookie in his first season with Victoria and BCHL MVP and leading scorer in his second, is among the 26 forwards picked. The Boston College freshman, also a draft pick of the Avalanche, is one of only two players among the total of 41 who is from the college ranks and was named NCAA rookie of the year for 2019-20. The other NCAA player invited is forward Dylan Holloway from the University of Wisconsin Baders. The other 39 are from the major-junior umbrella Canadian Hockey League, including 15 from the WHL.
Garand went through a similar virtual Hockey sa国际传媒 goaltenders-only camp this month.
鈥淭here were zoom seminars with four different presenters each day,鈥� said the Islander.
鈥淚t was definitely different but I found it educational and beneficial.鈥�
The all-players sa国际传媒 virtual camp will include a variety of sessions with a focus on player development through online education. The invitees includes seven players who were part of sa国际传媒鈥檚 gold-medallist team at the 2020 world juniors in the Czech Republic 鈥� Byram, Dylan Cozens, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Alexis Lafreni猫re, Connor McMichael and Dawson Mercer.
Sixteen of the invitees were selected at the 2019 NHL draft in Vancouver, including Newhook out of the Grizzlies in the first round by the Avs. There are 22 hoping to be taken in the 2020 virtual NHL draft, including Garand, while two are eligible in 2021 and one in 2022 when the draft can again be held in person.
Garand, meanwhile, shines on and off the ice. He was the WHL scholastic player of the year, with a 96.5 percent grade average in Grade 12.
Garand backstopped the Blazers to their first sa国际传媒 Division title since 2012 this past season by going 28-10-2-1 in 42 appearances with a 2.21 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and four shutouts. But like every other CHL and NCAA player, he was denied closure to the 2019-20 season when hockey shut down due to COVID-19.
鈥淚t鈥檚 disappointing because of the calibre of the [Blazers] team we had,鈥� Garand said.
鈥淏ut I鈥檓 shifting focus to the future now and what lies ahead.鈥�
That could include a Christmas date in Canadian colours at the world juniors in Alberta.
