NO LONGER A ROOKIE

There are high expectations for Shawn Bates this year.

RH: How was the summer?

SB: It was pretty good, a good time to relax after a gruelling playoff run.

RH: How did the workouts go and how are you feeling heading into camp?

SB: Workouts went pretty good. I hurt my groin in the middle of July and it kind of set me back but I’ve been skating here for a couple weeks and I feel pretty good.

RH: You’ve been on the ice for three sessions now, how have you felt?

SB: I guess my legs aren’t used to it. I’ve felt good for each of the two sessions in the morning but then when it gets to the night my legs just don’t have the jump.

RH: Did newly acquired Pontiacs defenseman Greg Brown find out that the mouth still works on you in your game last night?

SB: Yeah I guess he did. I don’t know what to say about that. It was just the heat of the moment and we were losing and I guess I just let him know what I thought about that.

RH: Your team has been in a couple fights so far. Do you like to see the intensity pick up as camp goes along?

SB: Yeah it’s very good. Cotteril came over, I guess, to protect me and he did a good job stepping up and today I just think guys are trying to show they are ready to step up and play hard. Yeah it was a good session.