Defenceman Scott Walford looks more at ease and with a greater sense of certainty about his place in Victoria Royals rookie camp.
That’s the difference between coming in last year as a 15-year-old first-round bantam draft pick to now as a legitimate candidate to skate as a Western Hockey League rookie in 2015-16.
“I’m obviously nervous, but more comfortable,” said Walford.
“I’m feeling almost at home.”
Not to get too far ahead of himself, the six-foot-one, 188-pound blue-liner quickly added: “I still have to make the team.”
This is a good year to do that. With only 13 Royals players returning, rookies will be given every chance. Walford seems to have prepared himself well for the opportunity. This past season saw the Coquitlam product distinguish himself at the club, provincial and national levels with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, Team B.C. at the 2015 Canada Winter Games and at the Hockey Canada U-17 development camp.
“Representing B.C. in the Canada Games was a huge honour, even though it wasn’t the result [losing in the quarter-finals to Quebec] we wanted. And I learned a lot at the national U-17 camp,” said Walford, who grew up also playing lacrosse.
But provincial and national assignments, by their nature, only happen occasionally. Walford’s biggest strides over the past year on the ice were taken in day-to-day club play in Midget for the Okanagan Hockey Academy under coach Malcolm Cameron, the former WHL Regina Pats coach who also coached nine seasons in the pro ECHL with the Long Beach Ice Dogs, Texas Wildcatters and Florida Everblades.
“Malcolm Cameron was my favourite and best coach so far,” said Walford.
“I learned a lot under him last season. He showed us how to take a pro approach.”
Which is going to be expected of Walford under Royals coach Dave Lowry, also the Canadian head coach for the 2016 world junior championship, who saw Walford perform over the summer at the national U-17 development camp.
“[Walford] is a very poised and intelligent player,” said Lowry.
“He has shown great improvement over the past year, with maturation not only [in skill level], but from a physical standpoint, as well.”
The numbers indicate Lowry is looking for this rookie class, which is led by No. 18 overall 2014 WHL bantam draft pick Walford, to step up.
Four from this potential Royals rookie class skated against Team B.C.’s Walford in the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George — Ryan Peckford for Team Alberta, Brayden Pachal for Saskatchewan and Cayden Kraus and goaltender Dylan Myskiw for Manitoba. They all have a common goal now on Blanshard Street.
“We have 13 returnees and we carried 22-23 players last season. Spots are available,” noted Lowry.
“There is a legitimate opportunity [for rookies] to play on this team.”
That gives this Royals rookie camp more an air of urgency than it has had in past years. It continues today with scrimmages from 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. and into Sunday with scrimmages from 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Main camp, when veterans report, opens Monday with practices from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and scrimmages from 2 to 7 p.m, and continues Tuesday with practice from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and scrimmages from 2 to 7 p.m. All training camp sessions are at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and open to the public.
The annual Blue-White intrasquad game is Wednesday at 7 p.m. with entrance by donation to the Royals education and scholarship fund.
The first pre-season game for Victoria is next Friday in Everett, Washington, against the Silvertips. The regular season opens at home Sept. 25 against the Portland Winterhawks.
