Marshall, Minnesota-A long overdue training camp kicked off in Southwest Minnesota today, as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs began official preparation for the upcoming North American Hockey League season. It marked the first time in the 20-plus year history of the program that the Dogs held training camp outside of the friendly confines of the Big Dipper Ice Arena. Of course this, and the delayed start of the season are both due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ice Dogs Head Coach Trevor Stewart and Associate Head Coach Scott Deur have 30 players in camp. The staff and players are following all CDC guidelines, including masking at all times unless on the ice, maintaining social distancing, with daily symptom and temperature screenings.
The Dogs will hold daily on ice practice sessions at their temporary home in the Red Baron Ice Arena, including an intra-squad scrimmage at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The scrimmage is open to the public with a cap of 250 people allowed in the rink.
The Ice Dogs play in the Midwest Division Jamboree in Richfield at the Minnesota Magicians rink beginning Oct. 29. against the Kenai River Brown Bears at 7 p.m. (Minnesota time). That game will be broadcast live on Hockeytv. The Dogs will have two mini games at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to conclude the exhibition season.
The regular season opener takes place Thursday Nov. 5 at Janesville.
