Speedy Red Wings
Defending IJHL champions to feature skilled team this season, says DesRoches
Nathan DesRoches is predicting the Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings will play exciting hockey this season.
“Our team identity is still speed, and this will probably be the most skilled team I’ve coached in my three years with the Red Wings,” said DesRoches, the team’s head coach. “I know a lot of the guys well, and that familiarity will be beneficial to our team success. It will be much easier to implement any systems or changes to our team structure. It’s a great bunch of kids, and if you can get some good human beings in your dressing room, it’s a great start.” The Red Wings will open the 2017-18 Island Junior Hockey League regular season on the road against the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers on Sunday at 7 p.m. The Red Wings swept a home-andhome pre-season series from the Vipers, winning 3-0 and 5-4. It was at Community Gardens where the Red Wings won Game 7 of last year’s league final, ending the Vipers’ sevenyear reign as champions.
“The biggest thing for us is to not get complacent,” warned DesRoches. “We were on a pretty big high winning our first championship, but it’s a new season, time to turn the page and we expect a really tight league this year.”
Back end
DesRoches anticipates the Red Wings will be strong on the back end. Bronson Banks, last year’s playoff MVP, will carry the bulk of the load in goal. “I was very happy with his confidence level and his calm demeanour,” said DesRoches.
“Our team identity is still speed, and this will probably be the most skilled team I’ve coached in my three years with the Red Wings. I know a lot of the guys well, and that familiarity will be beneficial to our team success. It will be much easier to implement any systems or changes to our team structure. It’s a great bunch of kids, and if you can get some good human beings in your dressing room, it’s a great start.” Western Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches
“It just seems to filter right into our bench the way he plays.” The Red Wings will start the year with five returning defencemen – Calvin McRae, Lucas Beaulieu, Evan Millman, Spencer Groom and Dillon Wall.
“As a coach I couldn’t ask for more out of my assistant coach Jeremy Balderston, who worked with these guys last season,” said DesRoches. “(Balderston) gets overlooked with how well
of a job he’s done with our defencemen. I believe championships are won off the back end.” The Red Wings will lean on Chasse Gallant to lead the offence.
“We expect a lot out of our captain,” continued DesRoches. “He was second last year in MVP voting, he’s been an elite player and he led us to a championship last year.
“Isaac Knox is another guy who is going to have a big year this year I believe. The list goes on and on and from our top nine there’s Cole Hackett. . . Jason Gallant has been the most underrated player in this league maybe ever. He consistently
scores, and he’s just a big-game player.”
Another player, DesRoches noted, fans can look out for is forward Silas Handrahan, last season’s P.E.I. Midget AAA Hockey League playoff MVP.
“You add him with Connor Morrissey, Alex Morrissey is another fun player to watch, a natural goal-scorer with a lot of speed,” added DesRoches. “He’s going to add a lot to our lineup too.”