** This story has been updated
Although he鈥檚 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.
鈥淚鈥檓 not allowed to leave my basement,鈥� Reimer, 16, said Monday (Feb. 1). 鈥淚鈥檝e got my bed here and my PlayStation, and that鈥檚 it.
鈥淢y Mom knocks on the door every couple hours with snacks or lunch, some food,鈥� he added with a laugh. 鈥淚 have five days left, because I leave on Sunday (Feb. 7). It hasn鈥檛 been bad, actually, just pretty funny. I鈥檓 trying to keep busy.鈥�
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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.
Alberta鈥檚 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing, and we鈥檙e very fortunate,鈥� said Reimer, who previously played minor hockey in Cloverdale. 鈥淭he other divisions haven鈥檛 been given the green light, so it鈥檚 fortunate to be in the Central Division, and I鈥檓 super excited to get playing games again, even though it鈥檚 about a month until those (games) happen.鈥�
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 Academy鈥檚 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.
鈥淭he whole academy and the coaches, they鈥檝e kept it interesting for the players with different focuses for practices and some game-oriented drills,鈥� Reimer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still competitive but not the same as playing against another team, going on road trips and coming up with game plans, all that. It鈥檚 been different but it鈥檚 also been good, they鈥檝e done a good job there.鈥�
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.
鈥� READ MORE: .
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty good friends, and played a lot of games together,鈥� 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. 鈥淗e鈥檚 super nice, and it鈥檒l be good to see him again.鈥�
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.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been one of the tallest kids, but haven鈥檛 grown much since the start of summer,鈥� Reimer noted. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy where I am. I鈥檓 starting to get a lot faster, more comfortable in my body 鈥� that鈥檚 been the biggest thing. I haven鈥檛 been very comfortable in my body the last couple of years because I was just shooting up (in height).鈥�
Last July, Reimer was among 113 players invited to , along with North Delta鈥檚 Niall Crocker, a Prince Albert Raiders draft pick who has also skated with DHA鈥檚 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.
鈥淭here鈥檚 four or five groups of us,鈥� he reported. 鈥淓very morning, someone takes on the news, the weather, the sports, a little news section that鈥檚 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 鈥� playing video games or poker or just something to keep us busy.鈥�
, 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 WHL鈥檚 East Division, B.C. Division and U.S. Division. 鈥淎pproval from the health authorities is required in each jurisdiction for the balance of the WHL Divisions to return to play,鈥� the league said.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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