Competition was fast and furious over the weekend at Bruins’ Fall Camp, culminating in a down-to-the-wire Top 40 game Sunday, with Team Black edging out Team Yellow 5-4 in a thriller.
Running Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 4-7, this year’s camp featured 56 players divided into three teams – Team 1 (GREY), Team 2 (Green) and Team 3 (Blue), with the level of play only ramping up as the numbers drew smaller, now to 31 on the eve of the Bruins’ preseason opener against the rival Red Wings tomorrow (Tues) night.
Defenceman Parker Seymour is part of the Bruins’ rookie contingent of signings from the summer, suiting up for Team 2 throughout the weekend, then Team Black, going a perfect 5-0 through camp. He spoke to the pace of play as a real standout.
“It’s been good; a lot faster and a lot stronger [than AAA] obviously, but I’ve been on the ice with the boys for a while now, so I’m feeling good. I’ve got my legs under me now so it hasn’t been too bad,” he said.
Like many of his teammates, Seymour came to Estevan a couple of weeks early to help out as a ‘player coach’ for the Bruins’ two weeks of Hockey School. When not on the ice helping out, it’s been a chance for the team’s bevy of new faces to connect and build their comradery as a group, keeping busy with team movie nights, dinners, and volunteering at community events such as the Bruins Annual Glow Golf Tournament and Unpack your Backpack BBQs at various schools around the community.
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“It’s almost like team-builders every day,” Seymour said with a laugh. “We just met each other but it feels like we’ve been with each other for the full year already, so it’s been awesome. Everyone I’ve met here is a die-hard Bruins fan, so it’s nice having the community love the team so much. The staff’s been really good to me, and it seems like we’re going to have a good team this year.”
“Everything we do, whether it’s the golf or the Hockey Camps we did for the kids… it’s very well run and it’s good for the community; and I think it’s one of the better camps I’ve ever been to. There’s lots of skill.”
Another of the new faces this year is goaltender, Jake Torget. One of five goalies at camp, the Langley, BC., product echoed his teammate’s sentiment about the fast-pace and rising competition over the course of the weekend.
“It’s been really fast. As we go along with camp it’s been getting even more physical and guys are kind of getting comfortable and getting their feet under them so the pace is getting faster and guys are putting more on the line in the games,” he said. “These games really mean something and it’s been good to see.”
Off the ice, Torget wasted no time joining his teammates in the community as well. He was quick to volunteer upon his arrival, handing out season ticket information cards at the Estevan Motor Speedway on championship race night.
(Torget pictured below with Bruins’ veterans Rorey Elson and Ethan Andrews)
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“It’s been awesome,” Torget said his initial impression of Estevan. “The boys have been really welcoming right from the jump and I’ve just felt like part of the family. Even the fans, they’ve been extremely welcoming. I can’t go anywhere without being recognized and [hearing] ‘Oh you’re going to love it here!’ So it’s been awesome.”
The Bruins will open their preseason in Weyburn Tuesday night, before returning home to face their Highway 39 Rivals on home ice, Wednesday (Sept. 10).
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The team will kick off their regular season schedule the weekend of Sept. 19-20. Friday the 19th will be played in Melville, with the home-opener on the 20th at Affinity Place.
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Marty Martinson/Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1
