The Colorado Avalanche have announced the dates for the training camp next month. Training camp will take place over three days in mid-September. This will be right in the middle of what could be a long couple of weeks for some rookies. For some, this could make or break their careers. For others, it is just part of the routine of returning to the season.

Training camp dates

The camp will run from September 18 to September 20. This is following the Rookie Showcase the weekend before September 12 through 14. Training camp will be at the Family Sports Center, which also doubles as the Avalanche practice facility. The Rookie Showcase will be at the South Suburban Sports Complex in Centennial, Colorado. This facility is home to several local adult and youth hockey leagues and has a large seating capacity. Training camp weekend will wrap up with a split squad doubleheader against the Utah Mammoth on September 21st.

Why training camp matters

Training camp is another place that some of the bubble players can make an impression on the coaching staff. Players from the top-six on the Colorado Eagles may never get a call-up, so this could be the only time the Avalanche ever see them. Keaton Middleton will fight for a position on the NHL roster along with several forwards like Matt Stienburg, Ivan Ivan, Nikita Prishchepov, Taylor Makar and others. This will be their time to shine with the Avalanche coaching staff and management watching every move they make.

What to expect

During the three days of training camp, fans will see almost every player on one-way and two-way contracts. There will also be some players with AHL contracts there. They will run through a ton of drills to test their skills and their fitness, as well as some scrimmages. There could even be some players that no one was expecting to be there, invited on a professional tryout basis.

Training camp always marks the beginning of something new for every hockey club. A new outlook on the year and newfound hope for their chance at the Stanley Cup. For fans, training camp just means that hockey is that much closer and the dragging days of summer are finally over.