It's here!

Yes, WHL hockey season is back today. Several teams open training camps today, with all the others set to follow suit in the coming days. By a week from now, camps should be underway in all 22 league cities.

As I have done the last two years, I'll be compiling and updating a list of all the players in camp for each team. You should be able to see the first version of that list a little later this morning, I'm putting together some names right now.

Training camp news from around the league coming in too.....like Chilliwack's Marc Habscheid musing about his team's glut of 19 year olds. With 10 19 year olds on the roster, the Bruins probably have three or four more than a building team would like.

The Blades' Duncan Siemens is a rookie with high expectations. And the Warriors have 25 vets with only 23 spots. When you add in the rookies, some vets are going to have to hit the road by the end of camp in the Jaw. And in Portland, the playoffs are no longer just something other teams do - they're the goal.

Oh, and keep former WHL coach Ernie "Punch" McLean in your thoughts this morning....he has been missing in the bush in north-central B.C. since Sunday. No food, no gun (in bear country), it's not a pretty picture right now for the 77 year old, who is undoubtedly one of the most colorful (and sometimes controversial) characters the WHL has ever seen.