By Dan Marshall

Clippers hit the ice for Main Camp

Aug 23, 2016 | 9:57 PM

NANAIMO — Training Camp is underway for the Nanaimo Clippers and Tuesday featured the first on ice sessions.

The team is divided into Team Orange and Team Black with each team having a morning practice session, and the day culminating with a scrimmage game.

Orange beat Black 5-4 in the game, but for coaches Mike Vandekamp and Dustin Donaghy it was strictly about evaluation, as the pair watched the scrimmage from the media booth at Frank Crane Arena.

Newcomer Will Leneave joined the Clippers in the off season from Carleton Place in the CCHL, and he has an NCAA commitment to Union College.

He’s one of the new faces that should see alot of minutes on the Clipper defense this year.

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“I’d say I’m a big defenseman who can make a first pass, not afraid to jump up in the play but I’ve got to play from the D Zone first.  I watch a lot of Ryan Suter, being from Minnesota, he really controls the pace and he’s always been a role model of mine,” said LeNeave.

An intriguing forward prospect is Aidan Casey who won the Telus Cup midget championship with the North York Rangers.

Casey says he knows what it’s going to take to crack the lineup, and keep a regular spot on this year’s team.

“Staying consistent.  I try to be a skill guy and obviously score goals and make plays. But my consistency game to game, shift to shift, is really what I want to work on.  That will come with my training on and off the ice.  I just want to have a good year and help the team win,” said Casey.  

The Clippers are on the ice for three sessions Wednesday and Thursday before the annual Rhodesie Cup intersquad game on Friday.