A little bit going on The last two months have been exciting for Canes defenceman Calen Addison
Ask Calen Addison to write a “What I did this summer” essay and he’d probably need a few extra sheets of paper. It’s been a whirlwind past couple of months to say the least for the Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman as he heads into his third Western Hockey League season.
First up in a memorable summer was a trip to Dallas when Addison — with his father, mother and sister by his side — was selected in the second round and 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If that wasn’t enough, the following month the blue liner from Brandon, Man. was in Kamloops for the Sport Chek World Junior Showcase in late-July and earlyAugust. A wild summer, indeed. “It was just a whirlwind of a summer. That’s a pretty crazy and busy summer for a guy my age,” said Addison — who turned 18 on April 11 — on the opening day of the Hurricanes main camp Saturday afternoon at the Enmax Centre. “I just kind of took it all in with my family and experienced all the travelling and meeting so many new people. Going to the world junior camp and becoming part of the Penguins was pretty special for me. A crazy summer, for sure.”
After spending a week in the Lone Star State with his family, Addison returned home, but not for long as he trekked west to Kamloops for the World Junior showcase and a chance to wear the Maple Leaf when this year’s championship takes place in Vancouver and Victoria.
“Anything with Hockey Canada is special,” said Addison, who wasn’t the only Hurricanes representative in Kamloops. Canes head coach Brent Kisio is one of the assistant coaches for Canada this year, while Hurricanes teammate and fellow Penguins prospect Jordy Bellerive was invited, but was unable to attend due to injury. “That next step up is the world juniors. That’s the one thing you really dream about your whole life. So to go to that camp and see the world class tournament was pretty crazy.”
The pace at the week-long camp struck a nice balance.
“It was pretty laid-back, but I think they did a good balance of bonding and going out and having fun and resting and skating,” said Addison. “It was a good balance of everything, so it was a cool experience.”
The wild summer is winding down, but the pace isn’t as Addison and the Canes head into another training camp with the puck drop on the 2018-19 season under a month away.
“It's crazy,” said Addison, who nearly doubled his offensive output in his second season with 11 goals and 65 points in 68 games, up from 33 points in his rookie year. “It was such a fast summer. But I think it’s an exciting year for all the returning guys. We think we can make a good run for the league and I think we have the guys in the room to do it.”
He comes into his third season as NHL property and on Team Canada’s radar, but not much changes for Addison heading into his third year in Lethbridge.
“I think I need to step up my professionalism on and off the ice,” he said. “But other than that, the reason I’ve gotten to where I am is doing the things that I’ve done. So I’m not going to change anything that I do before or during games. I’sll just keep it the same way.”
The Hurricanes main camp continues today at the Enmax Centre with 45 minute games at 9 a.m. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The team’s Red And White Game goes Monday at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.
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