The biggest news coming out of the first day of Moose Jaw Warriors training camp was who wasn’t there.
Veteran left winger Jesse Paradis was sent home before the team even had their first on-ice session.
“He is not meeting our team standards,” said Warriors head coach Dave Hunchak who wouldn’t elaborate on Paradis’ transgression, but did leave the door open for his return.
“As a result he’s been sent home to get himself in a position where he can meet team standards,” said Hunchak.
Paradis had 11 goals and 20 points in 65 games last season. The 19-year-old is entering his fourth season in the WHL.
Two Warrior prospects were also absent from camp. Goaltender Adam Clark — a fourth round pick in 2008 — and former AAA Warrior captain Zane Weal — an eighth rounder in ’07 — have decided to play junior A hockey and try to pursue a scholarship.
Clark had attended the Warriors’ summer orientation camp and the team was hoping he would push for a job against incumbents Jeff Bosch and Brandon Glover.
“It’s disappointing in the sense that you want to start at the highest level you possibly can and let the chips fall where they may,” said Hunchak. “We’re not an organization that burns kids. We wanted to give (Clark) a fair opportunity. If we felt he was ready to make the step into the Western Hockey League we would have entered into contract negotiations.
“He’s made the decision not to come and obviously that decision is up to him.”
Defenceman Kendall McFaull didn’t skate Thursday. He has a boil on his elbow that is infected.
McFaull, who was a sixth round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, is on anti-inflammatories and is day-to-day while they monitor the infection.
The Warriors have no other injuries to report.
