Defending league champion Rivermen open training camp

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — The boys are back in town.

The defending SPHL champion Rivermen opened training camp on Tuesday. They begin defense of their President’s Cup title in just over two weeks.

“It’s always exciting to get back, especially when you’ve been around a little while and you’re having fun,” said veteran defenseman Zach Wilkie. “It’s another season, another day to get going, and we’re ready to go.”

There were only 12 players and two goalies on the ice as the Rivermen opened their training camp at Owens Center. Head coach Jean-Guy Trudel says he has “ten or eleven” potential players in ECHL training camps who could be in Peoria at some point this season.

One of those players is his son, Tristan Trudel, who is in the training camp of ECHL Fort Wayne. The team will certainly look different than the team that won the league title last spring.

President’s Cup heroes like Alec Hagaman, JM Piotrowski and Mitch McPhearson have retired. Goalie Nick Latinovich is playing in Europe this season.

Wilkie, Alec Baer and Jordan Ernst are among the veterans returning.

“It’s a younger team this year, losing a lot of forwards (after last season). It’ll be a lot of teaching the first month of the year,” Trudel sad. “I think in a month or so, we’re all going to be on the same page playing Rivermen hockey.”

The Rivermen open the season at home against Roanoke on Oct. 25.

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