A new year presents new opportunities.
The Grandview Steelers’ braintrust is eager to see what the kids rushing onto the ice can do with them.
The Pacific Junior B Hockey League team kicked off its training camp on the weekend for the 2018/19 season, knowing that this year will be one of transition.
Gone are the longtime leaders who kept the team in the playoff picture and pushed for divisional titles – like Nico Bruno, Kristofor Zlomisic and Jeffrey Wong – who graduated from the 20-and-under league. A handful of others remain candidates for moving up to a higher level, creating a void that coach Stevan Matic and general manager Aldo Bruno are working hard to fill.
After the first weekend, Matic was encouraged by the calibre of players and the desire put forth.
“Everyone’s competing hard and trying to make an impression,” said Matic, in his third season as head coach. “We have some spots available and kids are battling hard.”
The one area where change is trending is at forward, where mainstays like Nico Bruno, Brodie Crawford, Ian Prevost and Wong brought multiple years of experience to the rink. They were also leaders when it came to situational play, garnering specialty teams and key moments in big games – and they have all graduated.
Although they leave huge holes at the top of the lineup, both Matic and GM Bruno feel comfortable with those returning to take up the torch.
“We do have some important returning players whom we look to for offence,” said Aldo Bruno. “Guys like (Connor) Alderson and (team-leading goal scorer Mateo) Coltellaro will get bigger roles and be asked to contribute more. But the offence and goal scoring will be an area of change, for sure.”
Coltellaro tallied a team-best 23 goals over 35 games, including 12 on the powerplay, while Alderson finished with nine goals – four with the extra man -- and 18 assists in 34 games. Others who should make a case for a top-six role include Emerson Kostner and Cameron Judson, who counted 12 and 11 goals, respectively.
“Kostner is a guy who a lot of coaches watch, he’s an intense, highly skilled kid who can distribute the puck and move into a centre spot,” said Matic.
Judson was a late acquisition who showed solid puck skills during a seven-game stint.
The changes on the backend are not as dramatic, but just as important.
The coach said, at least in the early going, he envisions the defence being the main area of strength.
Cole McEwen is a stay-at-home defender who has proven over 126 penalty minutes last year that he takes no guff. Jarod Yau has a solid track record when it comes to distributing the puck, accumulating three goals and 15 assists over 40 games. Another sophomore expected to climb the depth chart is Jameson Crawford.
Two affiliate players from last year, Derek Chin and Jacob Mikaelsen, have also impressed the coach.
Team management also expect Cale Dolan to take his impressive 2.53 goals against average up to junior A, putting 18-year-old Matteo Petrelli on the hot seat as the most experienced netminder.
“Petrelli is looking at do what Dolan did last year – come in and be the top guy. We’ve brought in a good group of goalies to push him for playing time,” said Aldo Bruno.
As the team heads into a busy weekend, the number of goalies still in camp number five, compared to 30 skaters.
The squad gets a good test this weekend with three exhibition games – Friday in Ridge Meadows, Saturday against Ridge Meadows, and Sunday against Richmond, both at the Burnaby Winter Club at 4 p.m.
“We’re looking to establish a very aggressive, forechecking team, and be very solid defensively this season,” noted Matic. “We will be hounding teams right off the faceoff, at least to start the season. It’s going to be a hardworking, blue collar team.”
Grandview opens the regular season Sept. 5 in Aldergrove, and hosts the expansion White Rock Whalers on Sept. 9, 7:15 p.m. at the Burnaby Winter Club.
