** This story has been updated

Although he害羞草研究所檚 endured a kind of prison sentence in the basement of his Surrey home, Caleb Reimer can be considered one of the lucky ones.

The six-foot-three centre is quarantined for a week in preparation for his trip to Edmonton and the delayed start of the Western Hockey League (WHL) season.

, following many months of COVID-caused shutdown.

Reimer is headed to Oil Kings training camp nearly two years after the franchise made him , in the first round, 18th overall.

But first, the league-mandated quarantine period for him and other players.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not allowed to leave my basement,害羞草研究所� Reimer, 16, said Monday (Feb. 1). 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e got my bed here and my PlayStation, and that害羞草研究所檚 it.

害羞草研究所淢y Mom knocks on the door every couple hours with snacks or lunch, some food,害羞草研究所� he added with a laugh. 害羞草研究所淚 have five days left, because I leave on Sunday (Feb. 7). It hasn害羞草研究所檛 been bad, actually, just pretty funny. I害羞草研究所檓 trying to keep busy.害羞草研究所�

(Story continues below video)

Upon arrival in Edmonton, Reimer and the others will undergo COVID-19 testing followed by an additional quarantine period. At the earliest, pre-season on-ice training will start Feb. 12 for the Oil Kings, Red Deer Rebels, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen.

Alberta害羞草研究所檚 WHL teams will play a 24-game schedule, with games against just one opponent per week and a five-day break before playing another team. All games will be played on weekends, with home-and-home games only and no fans allowed in arenas.

No such return-to-play plan is in place for WHL teams in some other regions, including those in B.C.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing, and we害羞草研究所檙e very fortunate,害羞草研究所� said Reimer, who previously played minor hockey in Cloverdale. 害羞草研究所淭he other divisions haven害羞草研究所檛 been given the green light, so it害羞草研究所檚 fortunate to be in the Central Division, and I害羞草研究所檓 super excited to get playing games again, even though it害羞草研究所檚 about a month until those (games) happen.害羞草研究所�

On Friday (Feb. 5), , in line with updated COVID-19 protocols in Washington State. The move allows Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans to play division-only games.

Since September, Reimer has skated with Delta Hockey Academy害羞草研究所檚 U18 Prep squad alongside some other WHL-bound players. They include North Deltan , a defenseman and fellow 2004-born player who also quarantined at home for his shot to play for Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Their DHA team has been in practice-only mode since they played a handful of games last fall, when COVID protocols allowed for such on-ice action.

害羞草研究所淭he whole academy and the coaches, they害羞草研究所檝e kept it interesting for the players with different focuses for practices and some game-oriented drills,害羞草研究所� Reimer said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 still competitive but not the same as playing against another team, going on road trips and coming up with game plans, all that. It害羞草研究所檚 been different but it害羞草研究所檚 also been good, they害羞草研究所檝e done a good job there.害羞草研究所�

At camp in Edmonton, Reimer will be joined by fellow Surrey-raised player Carson Latimer, who in December of 2019 scored on his very shift in the WHL, just a few seconds after hitting the ice in his first game with the Oil Kings.

害羞草研究所� READ MORE: .

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e pretty good friends, and played a lot of games together,害羞草研究所� Reimer said of Latimer, a former DHA teammate and Semiamoo product who scored 12 points with Port Moody Panthers after , at a time when the Oil Kings were in limbo. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 super nice, and it害羞草研究所檒l be good to see him again.害羞草研究所�

Big, and willing to play the power-forward game, Reimer has worked on his skating in recent seasons, and has also put on some weight.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e always been one of the tallest kids, but haven害羞草研究所檛 grown much since the start of summer,害羞草研究所� Reimer noted. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happy where I am. I害羞草研究所檓 starting to get a lot faster, more comfortable in my body 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 been the biggest thing. I haven害羞草研究所檛 been very comfortable in my body the last couple of years because I was just shooting up (in height).害羞草研究所�

Last July, Reimer was among 113 players invited to , along with North Delta害羞草研究所檚 Niall Crocker, a Prince Albert Raiders draft pick who has also skated with DHA害羞草研究所檚 U18 Prep team this winter.

While quarantining at home and waiting for their WHL season to start, Reimer and the other Oil Kings players have kept busy with daily online sessions.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 four or five groups of us,害羞草研究所� he reported. 害羞草研究所淓very morning, someone takes on the news, the weather, the sports, a little news section that害羞草研究所檚 been prepared with the group the night before, then a workout after that, mostly cardio and pushups, planks, lunges, that sort of thing. Later on at night, the guys get together on Zoom for sort of a team activity 害羞草研究所� playing video games or poker or just something to keep us busy.害羞草研究所�

, WHL officials said they continue to work with government and health authorities in each provincial and state jurisdiction to establish a start date for the WHL害羞草研究所檚 East Division, B.C. Division and U.S. Division. 害羞草研究所淎pproval from the health authorities is required in each jurisdiction for the balance of the WHL Divisions to return to play,害羞草研究所� the league said.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on