Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors launched the 2008-09 Ontario Hockey League season Wednesday, Aug. 27 when 44 players showed up for the first day of training camp to undergo medical evaluation and physical training.
But it wasn’t the sight of a player coming back home that raised eyebrows around the Hershey Centre as much as the familiar face of the club’s new athletic therapist.
“I’m happy to be back,” said Ivan Bokanovic. “It’s like coming back home. I’m working in a place I’m familiar with.”
Hockey fans in Mississauga might recall Bokanovic. He was the athletic therapist when the IceDogs called Mississauga home and moved to St. Catharines when the ‘Dogs were sold last year.
But with Paolo Vaccari leaving the Majors to take a job with Cirque de Soloeil, the position opened. Bokanovic applied, and got the job.
“Don’t forget, I worked with the people here for a year when they (the Majors) owned the IceDogs,” said Bokanovic. “There were no hard feelings between me and the people in Niagara. It’s all about location. I’m going to save about an hour a day in travelling and about $80 a week in gas.”
So, it was Bokanovic who was organizing things as the players began the process toward another season.
After morning medicals at the Hershey Centre, the players headed to Mind to Muscle in the afternoon for physical and conditioning tests.
They’ll hit the ice Thursday afternoon for the first full scrimmage.
The Majors will continue with daily practices right through the early part of September, leading up to the team’s first pre-season game, Sept. 4 in Peterborough.
The Majors have six exhibition games scheduled. They’ll play in Kitchener Sept. 12 and in Owen Sound Sept. 14.
The three “home” pre-season games for St. Mike’s will be played at local community rinks. On Sept. 6, the Majors take on Owen Sound Attack at Milton Memorial Arena. The following afternoon, Peterborough Petes and the Majors will go head-to-head at Port Credit Arena and Kitchener Rangers will be the opponents Sept. 13 at Iceland.
The Majors open the regular season Sept. 18 in Barrie. Their home-opener is Oct. 3 against Niagara.
onlinenews@mississauga.net
