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Prognosis promising as Chiefs play waiting game

Big, fast, skilled and hungry. As descriptions go, these could describe many hockey coaches’ wish list. For Vancouver Northeast Chiefs’ coach Jamie Jackson, the players he’s assembled fit the above bill, and then some.
Northeast Chiefs
Many players who were competing for spots at the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs’ training camp two weeks ago are now attending junior A camps this week, or preparing to challenge for spots at major junior camps.

Big, fast, skilled and hungry.
As descriptions go, these could describe many hockey coaches’ wish list.
For Vancouver Northeast Chiefs’ coach Jamie Jackson, the players he’s assembled fit the above bill, and then some.
The only question is, how many of the 19 players he’s circled as potential Chiefs will receive an offer to play junior?
Jackson has already endured a few weeks of camp and, like the rest of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League teams, is in the midst of a week off as many players attend junior A and major junior camps in search of a promotion.
“We’re fairly close to having a (final) team, but its in sort of a holding pattern right now,” said Jackson. “We’ve carded 12, we’re down to 27 players and 19 are at various other camps this week.
“Nineteen is the largest number we’ve had attend junior camps, which is great.”
Since the midget season doesn’t officially begin until October, there’s time to mull over the possibilities and options. At the same time, its difficult to get too rooted in specific line combinations just yet.
While it is unpredictable, there is a good chance that a few of those trying out will get extended looks and possibly roster spots at the higher level – which doesn’t bother Jackson. His main job and purpose is to help each player in his charge reach his potential, even if it means them moving on up.
At the same time, he has a hockey season to prepare for.
“We’re looking to be fairly deep up front, just like we were two years ago,” he noted, referring to when the Chiefs captured the B.C. title. “We’ve got a lot of guys coming back and a good group of new kids coming in, so we’re excited about (the season).”
Of the returning players who will fill a huge role are Burnaby’s Sean Gulka, who at 6-foor-3 could be a force as a power forward.
Jackson noted, however, that the Burnaby Winter Club product has a good shot at being carded by the Langley junior A Rivermen, after being drafted by the Victoria Royals.
“Sean’s in Langley and is one who has a great opportunity there,” said Jackson. “He’s grown a lot in the past year, now 6-foot-3 and 190 (pounds), so he has a heavy body and plays centre ice. He’d definitely be on our No. 1 line.”
Another key sophomore is New Westminster’s Liam Ryan, a 6-foot-1 winger who displayed good hands and an ability to play physical in his debut last year. Those attributes make him an attractive piece to the puzzle – and also why he’s spending this week in Vernon at their junior A camp and booked for Prince George the week after, with the Western Hockey League’s Cougars.
In his debut on the major midget circuit, Ryan established himself as a front-line player, contributing eight goals and 21 assists in 36 games as a 16 year old.
“I’m hoping he gets into some exhibition games (with Vernon)... He’ll be a major part of our lineup, he has great leadership skills and a presence both on and off the ice,” said Jackson. “There’s no doubt he’d be a top-six forward for us and I expect his (offensive) numbers will explode.”
Others among the potential returning forward corps who can take on bigger roles are Coquitlam’s Logan Bromhead and Maple Ridge’s Liam Evenson.
On defence, the team would gladly restock the lineup around two-way threat Jonny Sheardown of Burnaby. The 5-foot-10 blueliner has impressive puckhandling skills, as evident by his 27 points in 39 games as a rookie.
“(Sheardown) is a guy who can dominate in this league from his position,” said Jackson. “His offensive skills are hard to find.”
He’s in Vernon alongside Ryan this week, and if he returns would be in the mix to wear one of the leadership letters.
The other key returnee – if he doesn’t stick with his hometown Coquitlam Express – is netminder Kolby Matthews. Jackson said the squad has three solid goalies in camp, but getting a veteran in the crease would be a major asset.
While improving on last year’s sixth-place result, which included a 17-15-8 record, is another aspect of his job, Jackson remains focused on helping players improve their skills and learn important life lessons along the way.
Among those slotted to join the major midget club are a handful of rookies, many from the elite Burnaby Winter Club program.
Defenceman Juliano Santalucia and forward Josh O’Keefe, a Moose Jaw bantam draft pick, both played with the private club’s bantam A1 Western Canadian championship team, while centre Christian Buono was a member of the BWC’s elite 15s squad a year ago.
(Santalucia) is ultra-competitive,” said the coach. “He has a huge personality and the guys all love him. O’Keefe was drafted by Moose Jaw and is normally the fastest guy on the ice. He’s an elite skater who sees the play well... (Buono) is one of the players we carded in the spring. He’s in Coquitlam this week and Calgary (at the Hitmen’s camp) next week and from what he’s shown us is a top-six player, very skilled who can definitely be an impact player.”
The Chiefs, whose territorial region for players covers New West, east Burnaby, the Tri-Cities and Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, defeated the Greater Vancouver
Canadians in a pair of exhibition tests last week. They play all their home games at Coquitlam’s Poirier Sports Complex.
This weekend they venture to Abbotsford to play the Fraser Valley Hawks, then to Kelowna for a midget tournament the second week in September, before returning home for an exhibition test on Sept. 16.