The Seals’ training camp came and went as they wrapped up the three-day event with a Saturday morning intrasquad scrimmage that ended in a shootout after a 12-12 tie in regulation, two 25-minute halves.
First-year Seal but 12-year NLL veteran Robert Hellyer scored a hat trick in the first half for Team White then swapped teams in the second half, scored once more in regulation and netted the game-winning goal in shootouts for Team Purple.
His two-year contract came following the losses of Dane Dobbie and Curtis Dickson. Hellyer played his last two seasons with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs after spending his first 10 seasons with the Toronto Rock.
Ethan M’Lot shined alongside Hellyer in the first half with two assists and netted a go-ahead score for Team White with approximately five minutes remaining in regulation. He signed a two-year deal with the Seals but hadn’t yet solidified his spot on this year’s team.
M’Lot was a third-round pick by the Seals in the offseason’s draft and is looking to make his NLL debut this season with San Diego.
Hellyer, Liam Phillips, Zach Currier, Tre Leclaire, Adam Noakes, Ben McIntosh, Trent DiCicco, Jacob Power and Jake Govett each scored for Team Purple.
Hellyer, Briley Maxwell, McIntosh, Jesse Gamble, Jordan Durston, Justin Sykes, Eli Gobrecht, M’Lot, JJ Sillstrop and Kellen LeClair each scored for Team White.
Mike Poulin guarded the net for Team White and Tyden Redlick did likewise for Team Purple.
Training camp festivities began on Oct. 31 and one of the Seals’ three first-round picks, Robbie Turpin, won the ultra-competitive 100-meter run to kick it off. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 each consisted of on-field training sessions in the morning and afternoon with the intra-squad scrimmage on Nov. 2 to conclude it.
Patrick Merrill and Co. will make cuts to the roster ahead of their exhibition games with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Saturday, Nov. 9 and the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday, Nov. 16. They’ll open the season against the Philadelphia Wings on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Pechanga Arena.