The 2022 San Diego Seals training camp is slated to begin on Thursday, November 4.
31 players will be competing for 21 roster spots, making for some exciting competition. With camp starting this week, here is everything you need to know about everyone taking the field.
General Overview
31 players will be at training camp. Currently, there are three goalies, 17 defense/transition players, and 12 forwards. Of those 32 athletes, one is Indigenous, nine are American and 21 are Canadian. The oldest player is Brodie Merrill (40), and the youngest is Chris Origlieri (19).
The average age of the players attending camp is 26. Combined, they have an average of 3.34 seasons played in the NLL. 17 of them are righties and 14 are lefties. One traveled from Alberta, five came from Ontario, 11 from British Columbia, and 14 are traveling domestically within the United States.
Day Ones
Expect to see some familiar faces at training camp this year. Very familiar. These Seals have been with the team since its inaugural season in 2018, and are each looking to continue on their impressive run in San Diego heading into this year’s campaign. Defensemen Drew Belgrave and Graydon Bradley will make their return. Additionally, Captain Brodie Merrill and Assistant Captain Cam Holding will be back, as well as starting goaltender Frank Scigliano. Scigliano, the Seals’ franchise player, is expected to enter this year hungry for another stellar season and a deep playoff run. Forwards Casey Jackson and Austin Staats are the forwards suiting up for season four in San Diego.
They’re Baaack
Assistant captain and forward Wesley Berg will be back for training camp next week, good for his third year with the Seals. Defensemen Eli Gobrecht and Matt Sykes will also be back for year three. Gobrecht, who saw playing time in every single game of his rookie season, is looking to play a larger role on the backend heading into the 2022-23 campaign.
A handful of second years’ will also be making an appearance at training camp this year. Look out for Jacob Dunbar, Tre Leclaire, Mac O’Keefe, Patrick Shoemay and star-forward Dane Dobbie.
Mike McCannell, a 2021 top draft pick, will be a big impact transition player this year and will be competing for his first full season with the Seals, after having only been available to play in two playoff games last season after having gone back to school at Stony Brook University.
Backup goalie Chris Origlieri will be back this year as well. Origlieri is looking to improve his game and continue to mature as a goalkeeper under the guidance of Scigliano and goalie coach hall-of-famer Bob “Whipper” Watson.
New Faces
The 2022 NLL Entry Draft brought in some excitement, with the acquisition of defenseman Cameron Lumb, as well as forwards Adam Noakes and first round draft pick Jake Govett, making for a total of three draftees heading into camp.
Free agency in the offseason also attracted some noise, most notably with the addition of forwards Kevin Crowley and Curtis Dickson. Forward Braydon Brown is another free agent pick up, and played in the Minto Cup for Victoria alongside draftee Lumb. Third string goalie Kyle Hebert will be seen at camp as well. Faceoff specialist Connor Farrell was also snagged during free agency, in addition to defensemen Tyler Sceviour, Taggart Eymer and Jacob Dowell.
This will not be the first time Sceviour and Dickson have taken the field together. Both of them played in the Mann Cup with Langley, along with Dobbie.
Defenseman and 2021 draft pick Reed Rezanka will also be at camp. Expect to see intense competition from the San Diego product and Cathedral alum, who will be fighting for a spot on this year’s roster.
Transition player Jesse Gamble and defenseman Matt Boissonneault will make an appearance at camp as well. Gamble hasn’t played in the NLL since 2017, while Boissonneault played in a few games last season and is looking to secure a spot on this year’s roster.
Follow along on social media @SealsLax to see who will make the final roster ahead of the team’s season opener in New York on December 3. The Seals will return to Pechanga Arena on Friday, December 9 for Opening Day against Saskatchewan. Reserve your seats today at SealsLax.com.
