Dropped by Alaska Aces practice Tuesday morning mostly just to hang around the rink, check on the status of the training-camp roster, shoot the breeze with some folks.
The Aces have 24 players on their training-camp roster and 23 were on the scene -- that's after defenseman Evan Renwick and forward Joe Perry arrived in town after being released from the AHL Chicago Wolves' training camp. Defenseman Garrett Haar, released from AHL Ontario's training camp, was scheduled to arrive in town tonight.
Couple guys are nicked up with lower-body injuries and sat out practice. Center Tim Coffman skated a little on his own. Defenseman Nilan Nagy sat out. Both received treatment in the training room after practice.
The Aces will practice again Wednesday. Coach Rob Murray is giving them Thursday off. Alaska's preparations continue for exhibition games Monday and Tuesday against the Missouri Mavericks, who will also be the Aces' opponent in their season-opening, three-game home series, Oct. 16-18.
The Mavericks, by the way, look loaded after getting players sent down from AHL Bridgeport's camp (where former Aces bench boss Brent Thompson is the coach), and they have ample Alaska connections. The Mavs include D Kane Lafranchise, the former Seawolf who helped the Aces to the 2014 Kelly Cup; twin forwards Kellen and Connor Jones, who excelled for ECHL Bako last season before spending a lot of time in the AHL; former Idaho Steelhead and short-handed whiz David de Kastrozza; former UAA winger Scott Allen; and D Dax Lauer.
Meanwhile, after the Aces' practice at Ben Boeke Arena, headed next door to check out the renovated Sullivan Arena, which features a new ice-making plant, new floor, new seats, new boards and new glass. As of noon, though, no ice -- although when I left about 12:30 p.m., a hose had been placed inside the rink, which indicated the ice is going in today. Better be the case, really, because UAA's Kendall Hockey Classic opens at 5 p.m. Friday. So, as of noon, the puck drop of the Kendall was 76 hours away and no ice had been made.
Uh, cutting it a little close.