Hit the Ice

- Season 6

(2018)

For the first time ever, Hit The Ice is holding open tryouts and players from all over have made their way to Winnipeg to try and earn a spot on the well-known program. With only a few sessions to catch the coaches' attention, the players know that the pressure is on.

The invited players arrive at camp, joining the successful walk-on applicants. The group of thirty players now begins the main camp. Off-ice sessions and a few practices are on the agenda as the coaches begin their evaluation.

One last practice is left before the camp and the players give their all in the on-ice testing. An old injury creeps up on one of the prospects, putting his camp in jeopardy. A group of players get their feet wet when they experience dragon boat racing for the first time.

The first scrimmage arrives and the players are eager to show what they've got. Pleasantries are put aside as the battle rages. One of the players decides that his only option is to go home, and a Hit The Ice alumnus returns comes to share his wisdom and talk about his NHL experience.

Following yesterday's scrimmage, some players are feeling more pressure than others as the second and final game arrives. With the final cuts looming, no one wants to disappoint. But some simply haven't done enough to show their worth. For these unlucky few, this will be their last day at camp. For the rest, it is just the beginning.

Now that the 2017 roster has been set, the players can look forward a few weeks of hard work with their teammates. John hosts his first real practice and the players get a sense of his style. After a few days' effort, the group finally gets some time to relax at the beach and enjoy a somewhat home-cooked meal.

On their day off, the players get away from the rink and participate in a team-building event, battling it out in a medieval-style tournament. The day is marred by an unfortunate incident as tensions boil over between some of the players.

John is forced to deal an unruly player's behavior, Alfie comes back to Hit the Ice to help out the goalies in their preparation and a surprise visit to camp sets the group ablaze, kicking off another week.

The boys get the chance to develop their personal skills with J.P. Vigier in a series of unique drills and exercises. After a long day's work, the boys look forward to a good stretch. However, their yoga session proves to be slightly unorthodox, as a few four-legged friends join the fray.

NHLer Mark Stone returns to Hit The Ice to help out, and this time, he's brought goalie Calvin Pickard with him. The players share the ins and outs of pro life in the world's greatest hockey league. Later on in the day, everyone gets their war face on as Team Stone takes on Team Pickard in a friendly game of paintball.

Team Hit The Ice is ready to face Team Made in Manitoba in this year's first official showcase game. This will be a first chance for the players to show what they have learned in the course of the last couple of weeks.

Feeling good about their win, the team returns from a well-deserved weekend off with youthful energy. The day is made even brighter when Indigenous NHLer Brandon Montour and Joe Cramarossa drop in for a visit.

John meets a few players to chat about their future plans and hockey hopes. Following a hard morning practice, the players participate in a scavenger hunt that will take them around Winnipeg to discover some of the city's landmarks.

The last bit of scheming and planning unfolds as the coaches prepare for the final game. Confidence as at an all-time high and the team is ready for a second faceoff with their opponents. On the eve of the game, the team gathers one last time to recognize a few players for their hard work.

After more than three weeks of practice and training, the Hit The Ice team plays the second and final showcase game before a crowd of family, friends and fans. The time has come to play for each other and make good on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.