** This story has been updated

Although he含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not allowed to leave my basement,含羞草研究社� Reimer, 16, said Monday (Feb. 1). 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e got my bed here and my PlayStation, and that含羞草研究社檚 it.

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

(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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 amazing, and we含羞草研究社檙e very fortunate,含羞草研究社� said Reimer, who previously played minor hockey in Cloverdale. 含羞草研究社淭he other divisions haven含羞草研究社檛 been given the green light, so it含羞草研究社檚 fortunate to be in the Central Division, and I含羞草研究社檓 super excited to get playing games again, even though it含羞草研究社檚 about a month until those (games) happen.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 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.

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

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.

含羞草研究社� READ MORE: .

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e pretty good friends, and played a lot of games together,含羞草研究社� 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. 含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 super nice, and it含羞草研究社檒l be good to see him again.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e always been one of the tallest kids, but haven含羞草研究社檛 grown much since the start of summer,含羞草研究社� Reimer noted. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 happy where I am. I含羞草研究社檓 starting to get a lot faster, more comfortable in my body 含羞草研究社� that含羞草研究社檚 been the biggest thing. I haven含羞草研究社檛 been very comfortable in my body the last couple of years because I was just shooting up (in height).含羞草研究社�

Last July, Reimer was among 113 players invited to , along with North Delta含羞草研究社檚 Niall Crocker, a Prince Albert Raiders draft pick who has also skated with DHA含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 four or five groups of us,含羞草研究社� he reported. 含羞草研究社淓very morning, someone takes on the news, the weather, the sports, a little news section that含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社� playing video games or poker or just something to keep us busy.含羞草研究社�

, 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含羞草研究社檚 East Division, B.C. Division and U.S. Division. 含羞草研究社淎pproval from the health authorities is required in each jurisdiction for the balance of the WHL Divisions to return to play,含羞草研究社� the league said.

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