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![\"Ruth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4185238_web1_260430-Sea-Bears-Allen3-.jpg\")
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Ruth Bonneville \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Teddy Allen (centre) impressed on opening day of training camp, with returning hometown player Kyler Filewich emphasizing he feels Allen\u2019s \u2018due for a big year for us.\u2019<\/p>\n
After practice, Allen didn\u2019t want to talk about what lay ahead for him and the team. He was steadfast about the group building together now, with the limited time they have before the regular season begins on May 9 in Edmonton.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose moments will come when they come,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t really think about it right now, just trying to try to make the most of each day, most of each practice. Get better, get back in game shape before the season starts.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was the first reflection of a player who says he\u2019s grown personally and professionally since the last time he played for Winnipeg. His braids have been replaced by a clean, low haircut. He\u2019s also been baptized in his faith, which he says has offered him more perspective and allowed him to feel anchored.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m older, more mature, I guess, you could say. Learned a lot about the game, played with a lot of great players; played at even higher levels,\u201d he said. \u201cSo just excited to bring that experience back to the core and see how I can affect the team and organization at a level like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen arrived in Winnipeg last week \u2014 much earlier than any player needed to report \u2014 to get a jump on the new season and settle in for a strong training camp as the Sea Bears officially usher in a new era of the franchise, led by head coach and general manager Mike Raimbault.<\/p>\n
Colour Raimbault impressed by what he\u2019s seen from the 27-year-old, who will be leaned upon to produce offensively.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, that was really good for him, and we got to spend a bunch of time doing some individual work and talking about some things that we want to do,\u201d Raimbault said. \u201cI thought he was great today in terms of setting the tone and being a little bit of a leader in situations. Being able to be on the same page, having spent a few extra days was really nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen\u2019s presence was felt by his teammates on the floor, too. Those who have played with him already knew what to expect in his game, and those who haven\u2019t understand how pivotal he will be to the team\u2019s success this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, a really talented player \u2014 has done a lot of really good things in this league. He did a good job of leading today, kind of talking through to newer guys and stuff,\u201d said Kyler Filewich, who returns for a second season as one of five homegrown players on the roster. \u201cImpressed the first day, and feel like he\u2019s due for a big year for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
After finding some sustained success in their inaugural season, the Sea Bears have backed their way into the playoffs with losing records in each of the last two years, and the franchise has yet to record a playoff win. They are hoping Raimbault is the answer to that.<\/p>\n
Thursday was a clean slate for everyone, including Raimbault, who wore his shorts and whistle for the first time as the head coach of a professional team. The next week will be about establishing the habits and the identity he wants to see, and it helps that he\u2019s already worked with several players at some point in the last three years as an assistant coach with the team.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Ruth Bonneville \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Armani Chaney (right) dribbles up the court on opening day of training camp Thursday. Chaney is one of the new faces on the club.<\/p>\n After months of recruiting and strategizing on paper, the bench boss said it was nice to finally put his coaching cap on and see his chess pieces come to life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot more fun on the court, I can tell you that. Today we really wanted to do a lot of defensive stuff and really give the guys some space to showcase some of their abilities so that we aren\u2019t making too many quick decisions about where the best spots on the floor and the situations that we can put them in is, and we really wanted them to play with different people \u2014 switch the teams up a little bit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cThey also have to build their chemistry among one another, and that\u2019s an important thing that takes some time and takes reps, and takes commitment from their side, too.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sea Bears were without several players on the first day, including Simon Hildebrandt \u2014 who is away to write an exam \u2014 Xavier Moon, Emmanuel Akot, Isiah Osborne and Nathan Bilamu \u2014 who all have yet to finish their winter season \u2014 and Kevin Cross Jr., who is expected at Friday\u2019s session.<\/p>\n Time will tell when Raimbault has his full assortment of weapons to deploy.<\/p>\n \u201cAssertive. He knows what he wants to get done,\u201d Allen said of Raimbault. \u201cJust trying to focus on what he wants us to do and learn from him as best we can, and try to implement the things he wants.\u201d<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/joshuafreysam<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Joshua Frey-Sam Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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