It may have just been a preseason scrimmage, but Kaiden Guhle couldn’t help but feel excited.
The 15-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta. hit the ice at the Art Hauser Centre for the first time since being taken first overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.
The experience was a special one for Guhle, who can’t help feeling excited about what the future brings.
“It just got me excited about the years to come,” he said. “I’m excited to be with this organization. Just being out there for the first bit of training camp and being on the ice was really special.”
Guhle and Team Yellow skated to a 3-1 victory over Team Green at Wednesday’s scrimmage, but the young defenceman has his sights set on victories further down the road.
As a 15-year-old he won’t be making this year’s roster, but the learning experience is invaluable for when he does.
“Just take it all,” he said when asked about his goals for this year’s camp. “Learn as much information as I can from the coaches and other players. Just have a lot of fun and learn.”
For his first camp, Guhle even got a bit of advice from his older brother Brendan, who spent parts of three seasons with the Raiders before being dealt to the Prince George Cougars last November.
The message was similar to the one Kaiden’s been hearing all we.
“He just said have lots of fun, just be myself, don’t be the type of player I’m not.”
Kaiden Guhle spent the 2016-17 season with Okanagan Hockey Academy’s Edmonton Bantam Prep squad, where he tallied 17 goals and 40 points in 30 games.
Raider training camp continues today with five scrimmages at the Art Hauser Centre. The final rookie scrimmage gets underway at 9 a.m. before the veterans take the ice for their scrimmage at 10:30 a.m. The Green vs. White game takes place at 4:15 p.m., followed by the White vs. Black game at 5:30 p.m. and the Green vs. Black game at 6:45 p.m.
The annual Green and White Game will take place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 2.
@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca
