** This story has been updated

Although he91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not allowed to leave my basement,91裸聊视频� Reimer, 16, said Monday (Feb. 1). 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e got my bed here and my PlayStation, and that91裸聊视频檚 it.

91裸聊视频淢y Mom knocks on the door every couple hours with snacks or lunch, some food,91裸聊视频� he added with a laugh. 91裸聊视频淚 have five days left, because I leave on Sunday (Feb. 7). It hasn91裸聊视频檛 been bad, actually, just pretty funny. I91裸聊视频檓 trying to keep busy.91裸聊视频�

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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.

Alberta91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 amazing, and we91裸聊视频檙e very fortunate,91裸聊视频� said Reimer, who previously played minor hockey in Cloverdale. 91裸聊视频淭he other divisions haven91裸聊视频檛 been given the green light, so it91裸聊视频檚 fortunate to be in the Central Division, and I91裸聊视频檓 super excited to get playing games again, even though it91裸聊视频檚 about a month until those (games) happen.91裸聊视频�

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 Academy91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭he whole academy and the coaches, they91裸聊视频檝e kept it interesting for the players with different focuses for practices and some game-oriented drills,91裸聊视频� Reimer said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 still competitive but not the same as playing against another team, going on road trips and coming up with game plans, all that. It91裸聊视频檚 been different but it91裸聊视频檚 also been good, they91裸聊视频檝e done a good job there.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频� READ MORE: .

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e pretty good friends, and played a lot of games together,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 super nice, and it91裸聊视频檒l be good to see him again.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e always been one of the tallest kids, but haven91裸聊视频檛 grown much since the start of summer,91裸聊视频� Reimer noted. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 happy where I am. I91裸聊视频檓 starting to get a lot faster, more comfortable in my body 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 been the biggest thing. I haven91裸聊视频檛 been very comfortable in my body the last couple of years because I was just shooting up (in height).91裸聊视频�

Last July, Reimer was among 113 players invited to , along with North Delta91裸聊视频檚 Niall Crocker, a Prince Albert Raiders draft pick who has also skated with DHA91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 four or five groups of us,91裸聊视频� he reported. 91裸聊视频淓very morning, someone takes on the news, the weather, the sports, a little news section that91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� playing video games or poker or just something to keep us busy.91裸聊视频�

, 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 WHL91裸聊视频檚 East Division, B.C. Division and U.S. Division. 91裸聊视频淎pproval from the health authorities is required in each jurisdiction for the balance of the WHL Divisions to return to play,91裸聊视频� the league said.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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