Coachella Valley Firebirds start training camp where inaugural team will come into focus
Ever since the morsel of the idea of a Coachella Valley-based pro hockey team surfaced in June of 2019, desert hockey fans have had visions of an ice rink filled with the hometown team skating, shooting, checking and scoring goals.
On Saturday, for the first time, that vision will be a reality. The Coachella Valley Firebirds begin their training camp, and all players under contract will be under one roof with the Firebirds coaches as they prepare for the season which starts Oct. 16.
Training camp is an immensely important two weeks for the Firebirds.
"For one thing it's the coaches' first chance to really get their hands on them all together and start working with them as a unit," said Troy Bodie, the Firebirds director of hockey operations. "They'll be working the kinks out and shaking off the summer rust, but it is a really important evaluation process -- finding the right players and right combinations and who's finding their way up and down the lineup."
The 13 Firebirds officially under contract will join coach Dan Bylsma and his assistant coaches at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle starting Saturday. Throughout the two weeks, players will shuffle in and out as the Kraken make their own roster decisions.
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When the Firebirds hit the ice on Oct. 16 in Calgary against the Calgary Wranglers for the franchise's first game, the roster will consist of around 22 players but until then the group will be fluid.
"As Kraken training camp goes on, we'll get players that are reassigned from the Kraken that trickle down to us," Bodie said. "We'll have a big chunk of players right away and a couple of days later another chunk. At times there won't be enough to fill a team and at times there will be too much."
Of course, the coaches and organization are eager to see what they have, but for the players this can be a tense two weeks. It's pretty much an extended audition.
Training camp consists of drills, conditioning, skill-honing and scrimmaging. Put on a good show and you may find yourself in the starting rotation with the Firebirds, which means one step away from Seattle.
"A lot of these guys are in training camp with the Kraken right now and are thinking about the NHL not the AHL, and we understand that, but being on the Firebirds is an opportunity to show what they can be," Bodie said. "Whether that's a fill-in player for the Kraken at times or developing into what will be a full-time NHL player for us."
Another important aspect of the training camp process is installing a system and a culture that is consistent with the Kraken. Bylsma and the rest of the Firebirds coaching staff have been working closely with the Kraken coaches during Seattle's training camp to create a seamless style of play and mindset as players move around throughout the organization.
After all, a player can be on the Firebirds on Tuesday and play for the Kraken on Thursday.
"Or vice versa," Bodie said with a chuckle. "Dan and his staff have been on the ice during Kraken camp, and it's great exposure for the Coachella Valley coaching staff to have that time around the NHL staff and (Kraken coach Dave) Hakstol and learn the best practices and collaborate. Often what we do in the American Hockey League mirrors what they do at the parent club in terms of system and gameplay."
Speaking of gameplay, the Kraken are 3-0 in preseason games so far. They'll play a total of six preseason games leading up to their season opener, which is Oct. 12 at Anaheim.
Some AHL teams also play preseason games, but not the Firebirds. Bodie said it wasn't for a lack of trying, but being the new kid on the block made it difficult.
"Well, it takes two to tango. We were trying to find some games, but some teams kind of already have their dance partners and have a good thing going. For example, Ontario always plays San Diego in an exhibition game or two. Some teams just traditionally don't play at all, and some teams we asked already had their own commitments."
So when the Firebirds hit the ice on Oct. 16 in Calgary, it will be the first competitive game they will have played as a unit. But after all these months of anticipation, Bodie said when that day comes it will be a reason to celebrate.
"It's getting real, real fast and the excitement is sky high right now," Bodie said. "Being with the Kraken camp and their management team and Ron Francis and the hockey ops has been exciting for us, and they're doing a great job of helping us out as we navigate what we're trying to do and now with our camp. We're going to be ready."
Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Have a question about the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the AHL or Acrisure Arena? Shoot shad an email at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
Firebirds current roster
(with jersey number, name, age, height and weight)
Forwards
7-David Cotton, 25, (6-3, 190)
9-Nick Pastujov, 24, (6-0, 203)
13-Hugo Roy, 25, (6-1, 185)
21-Ian McKinnon, 24, (6-2, 194)
26-Tristan Mullin, 25, (6-2, 196)
27-Luke Stevens, 25, (6-5, 207)
29-Pascal Laberge, 24, (6-1, 172)
40-Jeremy McKenna, 23, (5-10, 174)
Defensemen
2-Jake McLaughlin, 26, (6-2, 190)
5-Matt Tennyson, 32, (6-2, 205)
20-Eddie Wittchow, 29, (6-5, 225)
44-Jimmy Schuldt, 27, (6-1, 203)
Goalies
30-Callum Booth, 25, (6-4, 194)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: AHL hockey: Coachella Valley Firebirds start first training camp
