Storm training camp returns to Sleeman Centre; public access to on-ice sessions
The Guelph Storm have set the timetable for their 2026 training camp, which opens on Monday, Aug. 24 at the Sleeman Centre. Team management says on-ice scrimmages and select practices will be free and open to the general public, with spectators asked to use Gate 6 (upper level of the Old Quebec Street Mall) for entry.
The club's announcement, issued by general manager George Burnett, lays out a series of morning and evening ice sessions across the week and confirms a slate of pre-season games at the Sleeman Centre as the team builds toward the 2026-27 season.
- Training camp opens: Aug. 24 (scrimmage at 6:30 p.m.)
- Public entry point: Gate 6, upper level of the Old Quebec Street Mall
- Pre-season home games: Aug. 28, Sept. 2, and Sept. 4 at the Sleeman Centre
The first public ice session is scheduled for the Monday evening scrimmage at 6:30 p.m. The camp continues with a mix of morning and evening sessions through Thursday, Aug. 27. The club cautioned that ice times are subject to change.
| Day | Notable on-ice times |
|---|---|
| Monday, Aug. 24 | 6:30 p.m. — Scrimmage |
| Tuesday, Aug. 25 | 10:00 a.m. — Scrimmage 1; 6:00 p.m. — Scrimmage 2 |
| Wednesday, Aug. 26 | 10:00 a.m. — Scrimmage 1; 5:45 p.m. — Practice 1; 7:00 p.m. — Practice 2 |
| Thursday, Aug. 27 | 9:00–10:15 a.m. — Practice 1; 10:30–11:45 a.m. — Practice 2; 5:30–6:45 p.m. — Practice 3; 7:00–8:15 p.m. — Practice 4 |
“A full training camp roster to be released at a later date,” the club said in its announcement.
Pre-season schedule and ticketing
The Storm will host three pre-season opponents at the Sleeman Centre before the Ontario Hockey League regular season begins. The pre-season schedule at the Sleeman Centre is listed as:
- Friday, Aug. 28 — Peterborough at Guelph, 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 2 — Brantford at Guelph, 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 4 — Brampton at Guelph, 7:00 p.m.
The club also has two early pre-season road dates: Sept. 5 (Guelph at Brampton, 4:00 p.m.) and Sept. 11 (Guelph at Brantford, 7:00 p.m.).
Individual game tickets for the pre-season contests are available through several channels: online, by phone at 866-STORM-GO, or in person at the Guelph Storm box office located in the Sports Hall of Game Hallway at the Sleeman Centre. The announcement also encouraged fans to stay connected with the club via social media and to download the Guelph Storm app for breaking news and contests.
Local impact and what to expect
Training camps like this serve as the public curtain-raiser for junior hockey in Guelph, giving residents an early look at roster battles, coaching direction and prospects vying for roles. With multiple free sessions scheduled throughout the week, the club is offering residents an accessible way to see the team prepare, while pre-season games at the Sleeman Centre give fans a chance to assess the Storm in game conditions before the regular season.
The team’s announcement did not include a complete training camp roster; that information will be released at a later date, according to the club.
For Guelph residents planning to attend, note the club's instruction to use Gate 6 for entry to training-camp activities at the Sleeman Centre — a logistical detail aimed at streamlining crowd flow into the upper level of the Old Quebec Street Mall.
Further updates, including any changes to ice times and the full camp roster, are expected from the club through its usual channels.
