Summer isn’t even officially here and already Jamie Jackson is counting the days until mid-August.
That’s when his Vancouver Northeast Chiefs hockey squad gains access to its new digs at Burnaby’s Canlan Ice Sports 8-Rinks in preparation for the 2017-18 B.C. Major Midget Hockey League season.
Yes, outside of Pittsburgh and Nashville, hockey is still alive and kicking.
The Chiefs have a lot of rebuilding to do – but unlike the struggling-to-retool local NHL club – their situation is due to success. The Northeast squad is coming off a strong year, finishing second overall with a 32-5-0 record in the 11-team major midget circuit. All of their eligible-to-return players have gone up the ladder or are knocking on the door.
Thankfully, there’s a constant flow of hungry 15- to-17 year olds chomping to take their place.
“We’ve got to start all over again because we don’t have any players expected back,” said Jackson. “It’s something we’ve been through before, and, the last time we faced that challenge, it worked out well.”
Three seasons ago, the organization played the underdog role to the hilt, ending up as 2014-15 B.C. champions. The following year was a transition season, where newcomers and youngsters blended to gain confidence at the major midget level. It paid off last season when they were the second-best club in the league. It ended in a disappointing playoff exit, falling 2-1 to the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the semi-finals last March.
The offseason has seen other changes as well, with the program shifting its home base from Coquitlam to Burnaby, and the team holding its main spring camp two weeks ago when more than 80 players competed for positions and a chance to pull on a jersey once worn by the NHL’s Ryan Johansen and Patrick Wiercioch, and Seattle T-birds star Mathew Barzal.
Drawing talent from east Burnaby, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, Jackson’s Chiefs won’t have trouble icing a talented team. But being competitive takes dedication, sacrifice and chemistry. All these new faces will give Jackson and his coaching staff plenty to work with.
“I feel this is probably the youngest group, but we definitely have impressive potential on defence,” said Jackson. “I really like our core on the back end among the guys we carded.
“They are all hard working and quality hockey players.”
There are only two potential returnees from last year’s run, and both are more than likely going to move up to the B.C. Hockey League, said Jackson.
Burnaby’s Christian Buono, who contributed 18 goals and 27 assists, is expected to jump to Powell River, while winger Zach Dallazanna, of Port Moody, is heading to Trail.
The youngest member of last year’s squad, 15-year-old Ethan Leyh of Anmore, is going junior A with Langley after finishing fourth in league scoring with 31 goals and 33 assists. On defence, Jonny Sheardown, another Burnaby product who tallied 17 goals and 23 assists over 40 games, is jumping to Alberta’s Brooks Bandits, who competed at the Royal Bank Cup last month, led by highly touted Cale Makar. Fellow blueliner and BWC alum Juliano Santalucia is also going the Alberta A-league route, signing with Olds.
While he feels pleased with the talent coming in at defence and goal, Jackson said the offence is lined with potential. Led by a couple of high WHL draft picks, and a few affiliates from last season, the forward puzzle should come together over time.
Maple Ridge’s Tyson Phare, taken 18th overall by the Prince George Cougars, has dynamic skills that could be a building block to a No. 1 line, said Jackson.
“He is pretty special to watch,” Jackson said of the 15-year-old forward, who played at Yale Hockey Academy a year ago.
The club also signed the Burnaby Winter Club’s Kyler Kovich, a left winger who was selected 78th overall by Red Deer.
At least two other Burnaby products – Burnaby minor hockey’s Dante Ballarin, a forward, and BWC defenceman Zachary Abenante – will be looking to turn last year’s brief call-ups into regular playing time. They have also carded Burnaby D-man Jackson Murphy-Johnson.
They all continue to skate at an informal camp this week, with a number of players still looking to impress to fill the 20-man roster. While he can’t promise the team will jump out of the chute come October and be among the top challengers, Jackson is confident the team has the potential to expand expectations as the season progresses.
Come Aug. 15, when they take the keys to the Vancouver Canucks’ former practice dressing room at 8-Rinks, a lot of the unknown will be closer to reality.
Even though his lineup will be all new, other teams will certainly be looking to avenge the lumps the Chiefs handed out last year, Jackson noted.
“That’s a good thing,” he said. “What the program has done commands a level of respect and helps us maintain a standard we always want to be at,” said Jackson.
