DEVELOPMENT CAMP
WRITTEN
BLOG: Safin talks Euro, N.A. hockey
BLOG: Safin mimics Benn, Ovie
BLOG: Dev Camp scrimmage
BLOG: Wickenheiser coaching
BLOG: McLellan talks Title
Dev Camp Day 2
BLOG: Prospects hit the ice
BLOG: Benson feeling good
BLOG: Prospects prepare
BLOG: Wells eager to learn
Dev Camp Day 1
VIDEO
ASK AN OILER | Yamamoto
CAMP RAW | Kirill Maksimov
CAMP RAW | Ostap Safin
1-ON-1 | Gerry Fleming
1-ON-1 | Ryan Mantha
CAMP | Gambardella & McPhee
CAMP RAW | Hayley Wickenheiser
RAW | Scott Howson
CAMP RAW | Joseph Gambardella
CAMP RAW | Graham McPhee
During Oilers Development Camp, though, the people of Jasper see quite the sight themselves.
Dressed in blue Oilers tracksuits and with red helmets fastened tightly to their noggins, Oilers prospects and Camp invites can be seen on their pedal bikes travelling to and from the rink each day. It's one of the several ways players get better acquainted, with them generally travelling in packs - as nature intended.
"This is my first camp and coming in and meeting the new guys, it's been a fun ride so far," goaltender Stuart Skinner said quite literally.
"You bike everywhere. It's actually beautiful out here."
On the docket for the week are loads of team-building exercises. Each day, the players eat together, skate together and of course, cycle together. On Tuesday, the boys will all participate in a golf tournament and long drive competition.
"I think it's getting better and better," Kirill Maksimov said regarding the players' fraternizing. "We've just been gathering together and the guys have been getting to know each other. I think we'll be in good relations by the end of Camp."
But even when they haven't scheduled anything, the players are still choosing to chill.
"We played ping pong yesterday with the American guys," said Safin. "It was fun to play with them. There's a lot of funny guys here."
The week is capped off with the Billy Moores Cup on Wednesday. As athletes, the players want to compete and make a good impression in front of Oilers management but after five full days together, there's still an aspect of friendship apparent.
The goaltenders, in their small circle, confirmed as much.
"Off the ice, we're all good buddies and same with on the ice," said Dylan Wells. "I think it's nice to have kind of a friendship and a good relationship with the other goalies but we're all pushing each other to get better."
There's a collective belief that being buddy-buddy and still having the ability to compete will only strengthen the Oilers organization.
"Everybody wants to achieve the same goal," said Wells.
