After four practices and a final game in Penticton, the Canucks say they’re ready to carry their system focus into the remaining preseason games and decisions this week.
The Story
Vancouver Canucks players wrapped up their training camp in Penticton on Sunday afternoon, completing a four-day stay in the South Okanagan with a renewed emphasis on executing the team’s new systems as the regular season approaches.
The group had been in Penticton for four days to put their approaches into action, build familiarity with the coaching staff and set the tone for how the team wants to play once the schedule tightens. With the regular season “just over a week away,” General Manager Ryan Johnson said the organization used the time to teach and reinforce how Vancouver plans to operate.
Johnson said the pace of camp was fast, but necessary given how much had to be communicated in a short span of days. He highlighted the importance of using even less-than-ideal timing—while referencing a Wednesday night skate—to clarify priorities, what the team would be focusing on, and to continue building intensity on the ice.
He also pointed to feedback from players as a sign the plan is translating. According to Johnson, the club’s energy level and execution during practice were what they hoped to see, and the coaching staff continued to refine its process as camp progressed rather than treating the plan as static.
The Canucks’ final stretch of camp included practice days described as demanding on purpose, with a sense that preseason is also about separating players under pressure. Johnson said the schedule was not designed to be eased into and that, even with travel and condensed timing, the preseason environment provides an opportunity for players to stand out by adjusting quickly and following through.
Head Coach Manny Malhotra said the team’s progress through camp met the goals set by the coaching staff. He said the group executed the days as planned, that players were adaptable as concepts were introduced, and that they picked up the key elements quickly enough to apply them through the pace of the full week.
Malhotra pointed to how the final group portion of camp operated, describing the rhythm of skating, traveling, then playing before returning to skating again the following day. He said the team handled that sequence by completing the work without giving into excuses, emphasizing the expectation that players remain focused through the realities of a tight preseason schedule.
For months leading into camp, players had been planning how to prepare once they reconvened. The report says the players chose to return to Vancouver a few weeks before camp to skate together and prepare, and Malhotra said it showed in how quickly the group took on camp concepts once they arrived in Penticton.
Malhotra also framed the shorter preseason as a change for veterans, but one the bench staff believed would be met with urgency. He said there was no delay once players were asked to push the pace—adding that they responded the way practice is supposed to look, rather than slowing down in the opening phase of camp.
Beyond the on-ice work, the Canucks also pointed to Penticton’s facilities and local support as factors in allowing practices to run smoothly. Malhotra said the city and the South Okanagan Events Centre were hospitable and that the venue’s setup—particularly the availability of two sheets of ice—made it possible for the team to get through its practices.
He also referenced an instance when “the glass broke” and the organization switched ice time to keep the team moving, calling that adjustment something they were grateful for. Malhotra said the team appreciates the help provided through the Okanagan Hockey Association and the broader community, noting that the club enjoyed dinners out and had a chance to meet fans during its stay.
Defenceman Tom Willander said the camp served a practical purpose for him personally as well as for the team’s larger system goals. With a full year of pro hockey already completed, he described the four days as an effective way to get going again, building intensity while also touching the systems and getting a feel for how the team wants to operate.
Willander characterized the intensity at camp as strong and said the time provided a productive start without being overly drawn out. With the regular season beginning shortly, he said the group is ready to open and that there is belief in what the team can accomplish through the work done in camp.
While the Canucks had their final day in Penticton, the organization’s immediate attention now turns toward preseason games and roster decisions. The report says management and coaching will make selections on the roster this week, supported by the existence of three preseason games remaining before the season begins.
Willander and the coaching staff’s remarks suggest that those games are not only opportunities to evaluate, but also another stage of the learning curve. For players trying to earn roles, the team’s description of preseason as a chance to separate themselves indicates that performances in the remaining schedule will matter alongside how well individuals follow system instructions under changing conditions.
The Canucks’ next preseason game is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 in Calgary against the Calgary Flames, with puck drop at 6:00 p.m. PT. They will then play Edmonton at home on Thursday, September 24, also at 6:00 p.m. PT, after which Abbotsford’s training camp is set to start midweek.
For Vancouver fans tracking the club’s final preparations, the wrap-up from Penticton highlights a clear sequence: systems teaching and adaptability work during camp, followed by a short preseason window where the roster picture tightens quickly and the team continues translating its training focus into game situations.
← More stories