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Quinn Hughes hits the ice at UBC along with many of his Canucks teammates
Bob Frid-Imagn Images

For the first time this offseason, Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes joined his teammates for an informal pre-training camp skate at UBC on Friday morning.

After spending much of the week answering questions about his future plans at the National Hockey League North American media tour in Las Vegas, Hughes was back in his comfort zone, taking to the ice along with 11 other skaters and two goaltenders. 

Looking as shifty as ever, Hughes participated in drills followed by a three-on-three mini game and then joined several teammates taking part in a post-practice shootout, trying – with little success – to beat Kevin Lankinen in head-to-head showdowns.

Hughes, who is set to begin his seventh full season with the Canucks, was joined on Friday by Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, Kiefer Sherwood, Filip Chytil, Nils Höglander, Teddy Blueger, Drew O’Connor, Tyler Myers, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson and Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

Lankinen and Thatcher Demko were the only goalies on the ice in the veterans’ only session.

Notables to take Friday’s skating session off included Elias Pettersson, Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane and Derek Forbort, who all skated with the group earlier in the week.

A second session made up of NHL hopefuls and Abbotsford veterans also took to the ice on Friday at UBC, while a group of prospects practiced in Abbotsford ahead of weekend games against Kraken prospects.

All players are expected to report to Rogers Arena next week for physicals ahead of training camp, which begins next Thursday in Penticton. The Canucks have not yet released details on ice times or training camp groups. This much is known: the team will skate on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre before opening their six-game preseason on Sunday, September 21st, against the Kraken in Seattle.

The Canucks regular season opener is set for October 9th at home against Calgary.

This article first appeared on Canucksarmy and was syndicated with permission.

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