Here we go.

Vancouver Canucks training camp officially kicked off at Rogers Arena Thursday morning with the team being put through oodles of tests, including a shuttle run.

Before most of the west coast was even out of bed, the Canucks were sweating and swearing as their speed and agility were tested running back and forth between two set points.

“We’re measuring their anaerobic recovery as well because they have to do the run repeatedly,” said Canucks strength and conditioning coach Roger Takahashi.

“It’s worse than it looks,” said Daniel Sedin. “Turning is the tough part. It’s a 25-yard run and we do it 12 times, if it was 50 yards, six times, it would be easier.”

This is the first time the Canucks have done the shuttle run as part of training camp, “and hopefully the last!” said an unidentified player covered in sweat curled up in the corner.



The team is now on its way to Whistler, where the remainder of training camp will take place. Click here for all the information you need about attending the free practice sessions.

Who is here competing for a roster spot? Click here for the full training camp roster.

-For 40 per cent of the players (24) reporting to training camp, this will be their first time at Canucks camp.

-Eddie Lack, Jakob Markstrom and Joacim Eriksson are all taking part in training camp, giving the Canucks three Swedish goaltenders competing for a spot in the Canucks net. There have only been 24 Swedish-born goaltenders in NHL history.

-Which province is home to the most players taking part in Canucks camp? Ontario; 19 players hail from the Heartland Province.

-Bo Horvat and Dane Fox grew up 20 minutes from one another and have known each other since the age of nine.

-Alex Burrows and Radim Vrbata played one season together with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL.

-Derek Dorsett and Linden Vey were teammates on the Medicine Hat Tigers during the 2006-07 season. The team won the WHL Championship that season and, what a small world, new Canucks coach Willie Desjardins was bench boss of the Tigers.

-Of the 61 players listed on the opening camp roster, the age range spans 17 years from youngest players born in 1996 (Kyle Pettit and Jake Virtanen) to the most veteran, born in 1979 (Kent Huskins). The average age on the Canucks roster going to camp is 24.8 years. A breakdown of the ages is below.



(Thanks to our media relations team for the great stats. You guys are swell.)