Welcome to Penticton and the Vancouver Canucks’ 2025 NHL training camp.
The first group hit the ice just after 10 a.m.
Read below for what I saw and heard in the Okanagan as the Canucks get their 2025-26 season underway.
To start, here’s some reading for you off Wednesday’s season-opening press conference with Canucks management:
First, here’s Ben Kuzma’s report on what Jim Rutherford had to say about Quinn Hughes. It’s surely another big season ahead for the Canucks’ captain, but everyone’s eyes and ears are focused on his future
Steve Ewen spoke with Marcus Pettersson earlier this week. The lanky Swede had plenty of interesting things to say, including about Kevin Bieksa
I focused on the annual question for Jim Rutherford: Is this a playoff team? As ever, the quotable team president had some layered thoughts.
And we had a short injury update from GM Patrik Allvin: Jett Woo, Ty Mueller and Anri Ravinskis are all hurt and won’t be at camp.
Here’s how Thursday went …
2:30 p.m.
Last item here: Adam Foote was smiling about how his first day as head coach went.
“I felt like the pucks were on the right spot,” he quipped. “So the players weren’t complaining too much.”
1:15 p.m.
Turns out we should be hitting up Jake DeBrusk for coffee: he was asked about the summer’s big reveal of his passion for Pokemon cards.
He’s lost some street cred with his teammates, he joked. He’s doing his best to earn it back.
“Paid for coffees yesterday and lunch, so I don’t know if I’m just paying for everything now.”
Vancouver Canucks players, including Braeden Cootes (80), Marcus Pettersson (29), Vitali Kravtsov (92), Aatu Raty (54) and Sawyer Mynio (45) listen to instructions for a drill during the opening day of the NHL hockey team’s training camp, in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
12:32 p.m.
Just had a great chat with Braeden Cootes. Story coming later, but he admitted to being a little star struck yesterday in their welcome meeting, seeing the likes of Evander Kane, Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson.
And this morning he got to skate with Kiefer Sherwood and Arshdeep Bains. He’s feeling good. He knows what he needs to do, he says.
12:25 p.m.
Elias Pettersson just spoke with the media. A good session from the No. 1 centre.
And honestly, what I found most notable was how strong his shoulders look. He’s legit put on muscle, as he claims.
That shot should be an absolute hammer this year.
Elias Pettersson in Penticton training camp for Canucks on Sept. 18, 2025. Photo: Patrick Johnston
Last year, Pettersson’s pre-season fitness testing came under heavy criticism from management. It was going to be a question for him coming into this camp, obviously.
“I don’t think too much about the past,” he said, a line he’s used a couple times already in the past couple week. “I felt good on the skate test, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
He acknowledged he spoke of wanting “vengeance” for how last season went in Swedish over the summer, but really he’s focused on what he has to be this season more than anything.
“Obviously, I’m not happy with how last year was. That’s in the past. I just want to get back to myself, be the player I know I can be, and what I can do is my only focus. Focus on the day,” he said.
Canucks development coach Mike Komisarek at training camp in Penticton on Sept. 18, 2025. That’s Ty Young in goal.
11:48 a.m.
As we wait for players to speak following group A’s session, an interesting observation radio play by play man Brendan Batchelor: a lot of work this morning focused on getting defencemen moving up ice in transition.
A lot of four-man rushes, he noted.
That feels like a much more aggressive intent from head coach Adam Foote.
Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote looks on during the opening day of the NHL hockey team’s training camp, in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
11 a.m.
Lot of teaching from Adam Foote this morning. The new coach did say things would be different — he’s looking for more “reads” by his guys.
Rick Tocchet’s system was much more intricate, setting out standard movements and expectations for where teammates should be to support the puck carriers.
This year it’s a lot more about freelancing.
Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland smiles during the opening day of the NHL hockey team’s training camp, in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
10:20 a.m.
Almost there. Group A is on the ice.
Group B will be on about 1130: Kane-Chytil-Lekkerimaki, Hoglander-Blueger-Garland, O’Connor-Sasson-Klimovich, LaBate-Aman-Stillman; Hughes-Hronek, E. Pettersson-Alcos, Knyzhov-Mancini, Arntsen-Lee; Lankinen, Young, Patera
Again, an interesting assignment for a young player: Jonathan Lekkerimaki is skating with likely second-liners Evander Kane and Filip Chytil. If he can find his scoring mojo, the Canucks’ big-picture dynamic gets a whole lot more interesting.
Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes skates during the opening day of the NHL hockey team’s training camp, in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.
9:45 a.m.Â
Just getting to Peachland here. Beautiful sunny morning. The aftermath of the Mine Creek fire on the Coquihalla is very evident, with plenty of scorched trees right where all those social media videos were taken — and the distinct smell and taste of smoke in the air. Here’s hoping we get a good soak soon to end this hot summer.
On to Penticton, where those reporters who got up here yesterday say that the day started with Ty Mueller, who is recovering from an August injury, and Chase Wouters, who obviously is recovering from an ailment of his own, are out on the ice early.
Vancouver Canucks players, including Marcus Pettersson (29), Aatu Raty (54), Brock Boeser (6) and Derek Forbort (27) listen to instructions for a drill during the opening day of the NHL hockey team’s training camp, in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
8:15 a.m.
On the road, just left Hope.
Here’s your groups for the morning:
Group A: DeBrusk-Pettersson-Boeser, Bains-Cootes-Sherwood, Kravtsov-Raty-Karlsson, Alriksson-Pattersson-MacEachern; Pettersson-Myers, Forbort-Willander, Kudryavtsev-Joseph, Mynio-Schuldt; Demko, Tolopilo, Medvedev
Interesting spot here for Braeden Cootes, as he gets roster lock Kiefer Sherwood on one wing and potential 13th/14th forward Arshdeep Bains on the other.
Could Cootes make the team out of camp? It’s unlikely, but this is a strong sign the Canucks see him as being almost ready for the big show.