** This story has been updated

Although heB次元官网网址檚 endured a kind of prison sentence in the basement of his Surrey home, Caleb Reimer can be considered one of the lucky ones.

The six-foot-three centre is quarantined for a week in preparation for his trip to Edmonton and the delayed start of the Western Hockey League (WHL) season.

, following many months of COVID-caused shutdown.

Reimer is headed to Oil Kings training camp nearly two years after the franchise made him , in the first round, 18th overall.

But first, the league-mandated quarantine period for him and other players.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not allowed to leave my basement,B次元官网网址� Reimer, 16, said Monday (Feb. 1). B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got my bed here and my PlayStation, and thatB次元官网网址檚 it.

B次元官网网址淢y Mom knocks on the door every couple hours with snacks or lunch, some food,B次元官网网址� he added with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚 have five days left, because I leave on Sunday (Feb. 7). It hasnB次元官网网址檛 been bad, actually, just pretty funny. IB次元官网网址檓 trying to keep busy.B次元官网网址�

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Upon arrival in Edmonton, Reimer and the others will undergo COVID-19 testing followed by an additional quarantine period. At the earliest, pre-season on-ice training will start Feb. 12 for the Oil Kings, Red Deer Rebels, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen.

AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 WHL teams will play a 24-game schedule, with games against just one opponent per week and a five-day break before playing another team. All games will be played on weekends, with home-and-home games only and no fans allowed in arenas.

No such return-to-play plan is in place for WHL teams in some other regions, including those in B.C.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing, and weB次元官网网址檙e very fortunate,B次元官网网址� said Reimer, who previously played minor hockey in Cloverdale. B次元官网网址淭he other divisions havenB次元官网网址檛 been given the green light, so itB次元官网网址檚 fortunate to be in the Central Division, and IB次元官网网址檓 super excited to get playing games again, even though itB次元官网网址檚 about a month until those (games) happen.B次元官网网址�

On Friday (Feb. 5), , in line with updated COVID-19 protocols in Washington State. The move allows Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans to play division-only games.

Since September, Reimer has skated with Delta Hockey AcademyB次元官网网址檚 U18 Prep squad alongside some other WHL-bound players. They include North Deltan , a defenseman and fellow 2004-born player who also quarantined at home for his shot to play for Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Their DHA team has been in practice-only mode since they played a handful of games last fall, when COVID protocols allowed for such on-ice action.

B次元官网网址淭he whole academy and the coaches, theyB次元官网网址檝e kept it interesting for the players with different focuses for practices and some game-oriented drills,B次元官网网址� Reimer said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still competitive but not the same as playing against another team, going on road trips and coming up with game plans, all that. ItB次元官网网址檚 been different but itB次元官网网址檚 also been good, theyB次元官网网址檝e done a good job there.B次元官网网址�

At camp in Edmonton, Reimer will be joined by fellow Surrey-raised player Carson Latimer, who in December of 2019 scored on his very shift in the WHL, just a few seconds after hitting the ice in his first game with the Oil Kings.

B次元官网网址� READ MORE: .

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e pretty good friends, and played a lot of games together,B次元官网网址� Reimer said of Latimer, a former DHA teammate and Semiamoo product who scored 12 points with Port Moody Panthers after , at a time when the Oil Kings were in limbo. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 super nice, and itB次元官网网址檒l be good to see him again.B次元官网网址�

Big, and willing to play the power-forward game, Reimer has worked on his skating in recent seasons, and has also put on some weight.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always been one of the tallest kids, but havenB次元官网网址檛 grown much since the start of summer,B次元官网网址� Reimer noted. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy where I am. IB次元官网网址檓 starting to get a lot faster, more comfortable in my body B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 been the biggest thing. I havenB次元官网网址檛 been very comfortable in my body the last couple of years because I was just shooting up (in height).B次元官网网址�

Last July, Reimer was among 113 players invited to , along with North DeltaB次元官网网址檚 Niall Crocker, a Prince Albert Raiders draft pick who has also skated with DHAB次元官网网址檚 U18 Prep team this winter.

While quarantining at home and waiting for their WHL season to start, Reimer and the other Oil Kings players have kept busy with daily online sessions.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 four or five groups of us,B次元官网网址� he reported. B次元官网网址淓very morning, someone takes on the news, the weather, the sports, a little news section thatB次元官网网址檚 been prepared with the group the night before, then a workout after that, mostly cardio and pushups, planks, lunges, that sort of thing. Later on at night, the guys get together on Zoom for sort of a team activity B次元官网网址� playing video games or poker or just something to keep us busy.B次元官网网址�

, WHL officials said they continue to work with government and health authorities in each provincial and state jurisdiction to establish a start date for the WHLB次元官网网址檚 East Division, B.C. Division and U.S. Division. B次元官网网址淎pproval from the health authorities is required in each jurisdiction for the balance of the WHL Divisions to return to play,B次元官网网址� the league said.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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