The Edmonton Oilers visited 琉璃神社 over the weekend for a series of practices and team bonding activities.
The Oilers were on the ice for their second of two practices on Monday at Prospera Place before heading home to play the Arizona Coyotes in exhibition play on Tuesday.
A few players have arrived for practice at in as part of their team building weekend in the Okanagan.
鈥� Daniel Taylor (@NiftyMittens14)
Captain Connor McDavid stressed the importance of team bonding ahead of the season. The elite talent said spending time in 琉璃神社 was essential to build chemistry with teammates off the ice.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important,鈥� said McDavid.
鈥淩elationships in the dressing room are really important for the on-ice part of it. It was a good weekend and a good opportunity set up by the coaches and management for us to get to know each other pretty well.鈥�
Connor McDavid joins practice at Prospera place arena in
鈥� Daniel Taylor (@NiftyMittens14)
It was also a homecoming of sorts for Oilers Center Leon Draisaitl who played for the Rockets during the 2014-15 season. The 50-goal scorer played 37 games with the Oilers that year before returning to junior hockey where he was traded from the Prince Albert Raiders to 琉璃神社.
Draistaitl led the Rockets to a WHL championship and won the MVP of the Memorial Cup despite falling to the Oshawa Generals in the final.
After Tuesday鈥檚 practice, he reflected on his time in 琉璃神社 as he stood in front of his painting on the Rockets Hall-of-fame wall in Prospera Place.
Leon Draisaitl talks about what it鈥檚 like to be back in 琉璃神社 after practice. Draisaitl played for the during the 2014-15 season, leading to the team to memorial cup where he won MVP.
鈥� Daniel Taylor (@NiftyMittens14)
鈥淭hey really took me in and they treated me really well here,鈥� said Draisitl. 鈥淚 just love being here and it鈥檚 great to be back.鈥�
Draisaitl went on to talk about how important his time spent in 琉璃神社 was for his development.
鈥淚 played half the year in the NHL and clearly wasn鈥檛 ready to make an impact every night,鈥� said Draisaitl.
鈥淔or me at that point, it was best to get some confidence. Get to play on the powerplay, penalty kill. It really helped me and helped my development.鈥�
Draistaitl registered 19 goals and 34 assists (54 points) in 32 games with 琉璃神社.
READ MORE: Lucky fan meets McDavid in 琉璃神社
daniel.taylor@kelownacapnews.com
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