There are enough similarities between this year’s roster and the 2014-15 championship lineup to give Vancouver Northeast Chiefs’ head coach Jamie Jackson cause for pause.
The cyclical nature of B.C. Major Midget Hockey doesn’t often lead to an encore, but with a lot of key pieces in place – like a mix of veterans, strong netminding, depth up front and on the blueline – there’s reason to believe.
With the new season slated to start this weekend (although the Chiefs enjoy a bye), Jackson feels his club has all the ingredients needed to be in the mix.
“I think we’ll be battling the (Cariboo) Cougars for first place, if everything plays out,” said Jackson of his squad, which draws players from east Burnaby, New Westminster, the Tri-Cities and Ridge-Meadows.
“Of course, you have to play the games and there are a lot of unknowns, but this team is coming together.”
The 2014-15 title run had solid leadership, talent and momentum that seemed to build off a strong effort at the Calgary Mac’s midget tourney, and barrelled through the rest of the schedule on a mission.
Improving on last year’s sixth-place showing, with a 17-15-8 record, is the first item on their checklist.
This year’s roster has its leaders, with two key returnees hailing from New West and Burnaby.
Forward Liam Ryan, a Royal City product, is an impact player who’ll supply leadership both on and off the ice, said Jackson.
“He’s back from (the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars camp) fired up and ready to play a big role,” noted the coach. “Last year we didn’t have a large veteran presence and he took it upon himself to be a leader.
“(Ryan) brings a big-body presence and some high-end skills, and we expect him to be one of our top scorers.”
As a 15-year-old, he tallied eight goals and 21 assists in 36 games. This year, the sky’s the limit.
Burnaby’s Jonny Sheardown will aim to pick up where he left off after leading the blueliners with four goals and 23 assists.
“He certainly is an offensive-minded guy, who will be a key to our powerplay,” said Jackson. “We expect huge things from Jonny.”
The roster also has three local rookies making their major midget debut Sept. 30 when the club opens the season against the South Island Royals.
Burnaby defenceman Juliano Santalucia is making the move up after winning the Western Canadian bantam title with the Burnaby Winter Club last spring. Goalie Jonathan Holloway, a New West native, and Burnaby’s Christian Buono, a skilled centre, are graduates from the BWC’s Elite 15 program.
Jackson said both Buono and Santalucia have high ceilings.
“(Santalucia) is an energy guy who defends well,” said Jackson. “Buono is very skilled with the puck.”
In a pair of exhibition tests, Vancouver – which plays its home games at Coquitlam’s Poirier Sports Centre – beat the Everett junior Silvertips 6-2 and 6-1, with the line of Ethan Leyh, Brett Didyk and Liam Everson accounting for six points. Zach Dallazanna tallied twice in the win.
This weekend is their final tune-up for the regular season, as they head to Kelowna to play the Okanagan Hockey Academy’s under-18 team.
