The start of training camp is scheduled for Sept. 28, but the Hershey Bears will have something to skate on well before then.

Workers are in the process of finishing the rink installation at Giant Center this week.

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It's always good to see hockey back," said Dan Strawhecker, facility operations manager for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co.

Strawhecker said the ice plant was turned on Friday and watering started Saturday. White paint went on Sunday.

Lines, faceoff dots and logos were added Monday in preparation for a final flood. Strawhecker said the rink could be ready for skating by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

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We'll have youth hockey travel kids on it Thursday night and some figure skaters Thursday afternoon," Strawhecker said. "We have a big tournament with the Jr. Bears this weekend."

One change in the rink's configuration this season will be an increase in the size of the trapezoid, where goalies are allowed to play the puck, behind the nets.

Strawhecker said the side of the trapezoid that extends along the goal line is increasing from 18 feet to 22 feet. The trapezoid line that extends across the backwall will remain at 28 feet.

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It's certainly going to impact the goalies, especially the ones that play the puck really well," Bears head coach Troy Mann said. "It's almost like having a third defenseman back there at times with a good puck-moving D."

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That's good," Bears goalie Eddie Pasquale said. "It will help the D-men out a little bit more."

NOTEBOOK

Mann said that he and assistant coaches Bryan Helmer and Ryan Murphy are slated to run the on-ice practices during Washington Capitals rookie camp next month at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia. Mann said they are scheduled to travel to Arlington on Sept. 10 for staff meetings and hold the first on-ice session on Sept. 11.

Ben Boudreau, son of Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau, a Mann coaching mentor, was named assistant coach of the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors last week. Mann served as Bakersfield's head coach last season. "I just made a call and said that Benny was looking to get into the pro side of it and had some video experience, breaking down games and that, because they were looking for a guy with a little video technology," Mann said. "I certainly put them in contact with Benny. I know they had two or three different candidates and they liked what they heard. It's good for him. He's close to Bruce now, too, a couple hours away."

Strawhecker said logos probably won't be placed on the dasher boards until after Hershey's exhibition season.

Forward Kris Newbury has already arrived in Hershey.