Greyhounds set to open camp

The Soo Greyhounds officially begin the 2015-16 Ontario Hockey League season on Monday morning.

A two-day rookie camp opens the organization’s 2015 training camp with player registration at 9 a.m. Monday morning which includes equipment drop off along with player physicals.

The rookie camp will feature 34 players split up into a pair of teams.

The camp includes 2015 first-round pick Liam Hawel and 2015 CHL Import Draft pick Makar Tokarev.

All but two of the 15 players selected by the Greyhounds in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection will be in camp.

Ryan Horvath, who played with the Ottawa Valley Titans minor midget team and selected in the eighth round of the draft, and Randy Hernandez, who played for the Florida Alliance U16 team in 2014-15 season prior to being selected in the 13th round of the draft, are not among the 2015 draft picks in camp.

Hernandez is an interesting story as the 16-year-old native of Miami, Fla. will suit up for the US National Development Team this season.

Hernandez’s family eventually settled in Miami after leaving Cuba 40 years ago. He began skating at 6-years-old and didn’t play for a AAA-level team until he joined the Alliance last season.

Some familiar faces will participate in the rookie camp as veterans Joseph Raaymakers and Tim Gettinger, who were both regulars in the Greyhounds lineup last winter, will skate with the newcomers.

As well, defenceman Mac Hollowell and forward Jack Kopacka, who suited up in a handful of games each with the Greyhounds last season are slated to participate.

The first scrimmage of the camp is set for Monday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Main camp opens on Wednesday morning with off-ice testing before players take to the ice for practices later in the day.