Demko delivers as Canucks leave Penticton following successful training camp

The story no one seems to be talking about as the Vancouver Canucks break training camp in Penticton is perhaps the most important one for the hockey club. Thatcher Demko not only made it through three days of on ice sessions unscathed, but the team’s unquestioned number one netminder looked sharp during his time in the South Okanagan. Granted it was only two days of drills and a Saturday scrimmage, but given where Demko was at this time one year ago, this is a tremendous development. 

The San Diego native looked locked in over the first two days of camp and then added an exclamation mark by pitching a shutout in his 25 minutes of work in the Blue-White game. 

Now, he wasn’t terribly busy, but the goalie’s job is to stop the pucks that come his way, and by that measure, Demko couldn’t have done any better. He even absorbed contact when Derek Forbort pushed Max Sasson into the blue paint. Without hesitation, Demko quickly popped back to his feet, dusted himself off and was ready for whatever came his way next.

All of that is so encouraging for Demko individually and for the Canucks as an organization. After struggling through an injury-plagued summer of 2024 that lingered into early December, the 29-year-old really only looked himself for about two weeks leading into the 4-Nations break last February. And then after that, it was two more injuries and far more questions than answers about how much the Canucks could truly rely on their main man between the pipes.

But after a summer in which Demko was unencumbered by injury and able to train fully, he showed up in Penticton secure with a contract extension and clearly motivated to make up for a lost season. He looked confident staring down NHL shooters, he looked big in the net and made stopping pucks at this level look easy. Again, it’s a tiny sample size, but so far, so good. 

Outside of Quinn Hughes, there is no bigger difference maker on the Canucks’ roster than Demko. If he’s able to get back to his Vezina-calibre of two seasons ago, he has the ability to single-handedly win hockey games. And with questions about the team’s ability to score and its best path to victory, winning low scoring contests may be what’s in store on many nights this season. And in order to do that, the Canucks will need goaltending – and plenty of it. 

Other individuals seemed to steal the spotlight over the first three days of training camp, but kind of quietly Thatcher Demko looked as sharp as any of the skaters that were doing their best to impress the new coaching staff. If that continues as exhibition action begins, it has the potential to change the trajectory of the Canucks this season. 

No one knows how the fall and winter months will unfold for the hockey team, but the idea of a healthy Demko standing tall for the Canucks is certainly reason for optimism. And based on the evidence presented in Penticton, there is reason to believe that one of the team’s true game-changers is back – and back in a big way.

Canucks accomplished what they wanted to in Penticton

Overall, the Canucks seemed pleased with the work they were able to get done at training camp. And they should be. With a new head coach – and a new coaching staff in general – there was plenty of teaching and lots of learning. The camp was conducted at a good pace and with the kind of focus and determination those coaches demanded. Of course, there are no trophies handed out at this time of year, and optimism abounds in all 32 camps around the NHL. But this looked and felt like a group determined to put last season behind it and to turn the page. And to that end, the players appeared energized and enthusiastic as they were pushed for three days. Quinn Hughes looks like he’s in mid-season form, Elias Pettersson was invested and showed flashes of his former self, a number of the bubble players ramped up their intensity with an eye to a spot in the opening night line-up and the organization’s stable of promising youngsters showed well against NHL veterans. 

Now the competition for jobs really ramps up as the Canucks kick off their six-game preseason in Seattle on Sunday night. Guys in the hunt for spots on the 23-man roster may only get a couple of games to prove they belong. That should raise the intensity level throughout the line-up. And by this time next week, we should all have a better sense of who has the inside track to be in the line-up when the Canucks open the regular season on October 9th against Calgary.

And finally, Penticton truly is an incredible spot for training camp. From the perfect weather all weekend, to the incredible facility to the friendly people that supported the Canucks throughout their time here, hopefully this city remains part of the team’s regular rotation to get its season started. Penticton was once again an amazing host for this hockey club. And a huge thanks to the many people that took a moment to say hi and to let us know how much they enjoy the work done here at Canucks Army and on all of our podcasts.