It's time. Training Camp is over. Players have been selected. Equipment has been handed out. Billet families have been assigned. The only thing yet to be tested is this year's addition of the Seattle Totems.

The Totems will travel to Bellingham this Saturday for their only preseason game vs. the Blazers. Seattle GM, Michael Murphy says that while it was a long summer, featuring a lot of changes, he and his troops are ready to start the season. "It will good to finally get things going. The team has had a couple of weeks now to get to know each other and gel. I don't expect perfection right out of the gate but Buttsy (Totems Head Coach, Mike Butters) has been working them hard."

This years addition of the Totems will feature a mix of returning players, USPHL veterans and quality rookies that have expectations high in the Emerald City. The Totems boast 8 returning players (Aitken, Cleofe, Ferguson, Konopka, Lyrintzis, Neal, Rettell, Sloan), 7 players with Junior hockey Experience (Maddox Caie, Justin Freeman, Casey Johnson, Trevor Loucks, Carsten Shrimpton, Jacob Winfrey, Roman Wolynec) and 9 Rookies  (Luke Anthony, Drew Heiser, Michael Karvelas, Keegan Kazikiewicz, Max Lazzaro, Seth Morris, Daniel Radkevich, Vaclav Sedivy, Kai Williamson).

Seattle Head Coach, Mike Butters, said he is both excited and upbeat about his group and ready to get the season underway. "This is always both a unique and special time of the season. I don't think there's a coach out there at any level who can say definitively what they have. That said, I think we've got a group that is capable of achieving a lot this season. Saturday's game is a good opportunity to see our guys compete against other players other than each other. We have a good mix. Our experienced players have strong leadership qualities and and players making their junior debuts are both eager and hungry. With only a couple of weeks to prepare, I think emotions will drive the game over all else this weekend."

Coach Butters says that although 24 players currently sit on the roster, their are still 7 players still with Tier II clubs who have agreed to report to Seattle should they be released. "Roster movement is something that is a part of junior hockey at this time of year. With higher level clubs still paring down their rosters, it makes our decisions tough. I have always said that until I see the whites of a players eyes on the ice with us, I keep my focus on the players that have put the work in here. We will deal with each situation as it comes." 

After Saturday's game, the Totems will have 6 days before the official start of the season begins with a rematch with the same Bellingham Blazers. The Totems will then host their Home Opener on Saturday, September 23rd at Olympicview Ice Arena. Game time is at 7:30pm.