The Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals training camp kicks off this weekend at Oceanside Place with a bunch of new faces looking to crack the opening day lineup.
With the Generals’ summer ice sessions winding down last weekend, there have been more and more new faces coming to the Oceanside area in advance of the training camp, which kicks off August 15. Head coach Jason Johns has been busy preparing for the camp and is ready to see all the offseason work unfold on the ice.
“We’re really excited, these kids have been working hard all summer for this,” Johns said. “Training camp is going to be good, we’ll have a lot of new faces looking to make the team, so it’s really exciting.”
Both Johns and Lou Gravel, the general manager, have been busy all summer searching high and low players for the training camp.
Some new faces recently arrived in town and are looking forward to the camp. Goaltenders David Anderson, from Santa Clarita, California and Austin Caktas, from Port Coquitlam, have been getting to know one another and will be pushing each other once camp starts.
“We know about the changes this team went through last season, so we’re aware of what went on,” Caktas said. “We’re really excited to come in here and be a part of the change going forward. Coach Johns has been good to talk to and I can’t wait to get camp started.”
Anderson echoed the statements of his fellow goaltender, who seems to be enjoying his time in the Oceanside area.
“It’s nice here, really nice,” Anderson said. “Coming from Utah, it’s a good change for sure. It’s really exciting to be here and I’m excited to be part of the team. I’ve been working hard, training lots so I’m ready for camp to start.”
Also coming from Port Coquitlam is Jacob Longmore, a forward who isn’t the tallest on skates but isn’t afraid to get in there and mix it up.
“Honestly, I considered myself as a grinder when I first started,” Longmore said. “I can put the puck in the net and set guys up too but I like getting in there, digging the puck out and going in to the corners. Of course, I like the grinding aspect of the game too, anything to help the team out.”
Local Jarrett Weme, who will also be looking to crack the Gens roster after being an AP last season, is ready and raring to go for training camp.
“It’s been going good, coming out here to the summer ice sessions,” Weme said. “It’s pretty exciting with the new season coming up. I can’t wait to get it going, I miss being on the ice. I’m gonna give it all I’ve got to make the team, show them I have what it takes.”
