Success isn’t measured just in wins when it comes to the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League. Roster turnover is a big part of it too.
The fact the Greater Vancouver Canadians feature just three returning players reflects on their deep run last spring. The regional rep team came within a game of winning their first-ever provincial title. The majority has moved on to the junior ranks including six in the Western Hockey League.
“There is no such thing as a re-building year in this league,” said head coach Phil Alalouf. “We are not a junior league where you have three or four years to take a run at it again. It’s all about development. You pick 20 players who are keen to get to the next level and do it all over again.”
The new-look Canadians opened the regular season with a pair of road wins over the South Island Royals and return home as part of the league’s Showcase Weekend at the Richmond Olympic Oval. The action-packed schedule features Greater Vancouver taking on the Kootenay Ice at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday and again on Sunday (10 a.m.).
The Canadians leaned heavily on their top end players a year ago for their post-season run.
The trio of elite WHL prospects Sasha Mutala, Scott Atkinson and Henry Rybinski was the most productive line in the league. Chris Douglas was another top end sniper who left the team in January for Red Deer.
Alalouf doesn’t have the same impact players at his disposal but suggests this year’s team will have much better balance. That was evident during the weekend sweep on the Island where eight different players scored goals in 5-0 and 5-3 victories.
“This team has a stronger core. There isn’t that big gap like we had last year and you can see it in our dressing room,” continued Alalouf. “They know they all need to battle for one another. There is no one sitting there who doesn’t feel they are a big part of this team.”
The Canadians feature seven Richmond players on their roster, including 15-year-old blueliners Noah Boroditsky, Hayden Hurst, Vincent Thrum and Hayden Tuba. Rounding out the local contingent are Edmonton Oil Kings prospect Tyler Horstmann, along with Van Lupien and Brendon Jorssen.
