The Vancouver Canucks have set the dates for their annual summer development camp. In a press release announcing the re-signing of goaltender Jonathan Lemieux, the Abbotsford Canucks say Lemiuex is expected to join the organization’s other prospects from July 1st to 4th at the University of British Columbia.
Summer development camp features the team’s most recent draft picks along with other young professionals in the organization. The Canucks will likely add a couple of free agents to the mix as well. The camp includes daily on-ice sessions led by Abbotsford’s coaching staff and the Canucks player development department. The hockey portion of the camp usually concludes with a Blue vs White scrimmage game. When not on skates, the prospects usually take part in fitness and nutrition classes and have been known to visit local charities, as well. Camp almost always culminates with the prospects doing the Grouse Grind.
The on-ice sessions are usually divided into two groups to provide as much coaching attention as possible for the players involved. The daily training sessions are open to the public.
Last year, the Canucks had Arshdeep Bains address the group of prospects to paint a picture of what he had experienced in his first year as a professional after signing with the Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 2022.
While a full roster and daily activities will be released at a later date, it’s expected that 2022 first rounder Jonathan Lekkerimaki and last year’s first round pick Tom Willander will both take part in this year’s camp. Those two were on the ice at UBC a year ago as were forwards Max Sasson and Josh Bloom, defencemen Cole McWard and Elias Pettersson and goalie Nikita Tolopilo. Some of those players will likely be excused from this year’s camp due to their professional experience.
In all, the Canucks had 40 players on last year’s summer development camp roster.
This year’s group should include the Canucks 2024 draft class, although with no picks until the third round that’s not likely to produce a top prospect. As it stands right now, the Canucks have five picks in the 2024 NHL Draft set for June 28th and 29th in Las Vegas. They have one in each of the third and fourth rounds, two in the sixth round and one in the seventh.
