Wilson is picking up the pace
Look for Koletrane Wilson to keep his feet moving as he heads into the Lethbridge Hurricanes training camp. It’s not that the defenceman who will turn 18 Sept. 1 was dragging his feet in the one regular season game and three playoff games he got in with the Canes last year.
However, over the course of the summer, Wilson made it a point to focus on his feet in anticipation of the Hurricanes main camp, which started Saturday at the Enmax Centre after two days of rookie camp.
“I focused a lot more on my footwork,” said the six-foot-three, 214-pound blueliner who hails from Edmonton and scored one goal and 11 points in 45 games with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League last season. “I did a lot of power skating and getting quick off the hop. And obviously strength. You want to get cardio and you want to get all that going, too. I tried to focus more on the quick feet, but covered everything over the two months.”
After having a proverbial cup of coffee with the Canes last season that resulted in three games in the team’s memorable post season run to the Eastern Conference final, Wilson — drafted in the fourth round and 84th overall in the 2014 Western Hockey League bantam draft — comes to camp looking to stake out a spot among the defence corps.
“It’s exciting,” said Wilson. “Training all summer to get to camp. The first couple of days you get a couple of skate days before camp (and) that was good. It’s hard work this weekend and then we get into preseason next weekend.”
That quick glance at the WHL ranks last season certainly doesn’t hurt.
“It helps me a lot, not coming in with the unknown,” said Wilson. “When you play in the playoffs, that’s the highest level as it gets and now you have an understanding of what it’s going to be like and you can come in with that confidence that you have a feel for it and you’re not coming in cold at all.”
Wilson now joins the battle in a crowded Hurricanes defence.
“There is going to be some competition for spots early here,” said Wilson. “There are a couple of guys going to NHL camps soon, so it should open up some opportunity for some guys. It’s just about taking advantage of the opportunity you’re given. But innercompetition makes the team better and right now on paper we should have a good season.”
The Hurricanes have 57 players in the main camp which continues today and Monday before the annual Red vs. White Intersquad game Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.