Pats’ Denomie adjusts to lengthy off-season due to COVID-19

In a normal year, Carson Denomie and the Regina Pats would be gearing up for their first game of a new WHL season.

But 2020 has been anything but normal, so instead of lacing up the skates, Denomie and other WHL players are still playing the waiting game.

“I think at this point, I’m just hoping we play. I’d hate to have the season get cancelled and not be able to finish my last year,” said Denomie, who turned 20 in January.

“I’m still just sitting at home and relaxing and all that stuff. This is the time of year where you really kick it into gear for the season, so it’s definitely weird.”

Denomie’s concern with missing out on a season as a 20-year-old is that pro teams and university programs wouldn’t have any recent game footage to scout.

The start of the 2020-21 WHL season has been postponed until Dec. 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, the league cancelled the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season and its playoffs.

Denomie was traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Pats last season. In 46 games with Regina, Denomie had 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists).

With the irregular off-season, Denomie has had to make changes to his training schedule to get ready for the new season.

“In a regular type of year where we didn’t have to cancel the season, there’s only two weeks (off before starting training) but now we have an extra two months of training before we start the season so it’s different in that aspect,” Denomie said.

“A regular off-season, you get 2 1/2 months and you’re going hard and you’re peaking for training camp and the start of the season, but now we’ve had about six months of training. You can’t go hard for six straight months; you need your rest. Our trainer was in contact with all of our players telling us when the right times to take rests were.”

Denomie, who was born in Regina, has been able to get onto the ice multiple times a week to try and stay in shape ahead of training camp, which is expected to get underway in November.

“With the conversations we’ve had with our coaches and our management, I’m pretty confident that we’re going to be able to play,” Denomie said.

And just like fans were eagerly anticipating the start of the 2020-21 season, Denomie says the anticipation is building with the players as well.

“Once we’re all able to get back together and get on the ice together, there’ll be nothing but excitement. The regular season is a grind and you’re kind of relieved once it’s over to get some rest, but we’ve been going on far too long without having to play hockey so I think everyone’s going to be excited,” Denomie said.