Chiefs retool
A new-look Lakefield Chiefs begin regular season tonight
LAKEFIELD -- Lakefield Fitzsimmons Towing and Repair Chiefs head coach Jamie Arcand says his team will look a little differently from last year but hopes it will be just as competitive.
Arcand, entering his second season and first full campaign with the OHA Central Junior C club, said his squad won’t probably be as strong offensively but will have more size and may be a little better on the defensive side of things.
It will all begin for real for the Chiefs on Tuesday as they host the Georgina Ice in the first game of the regular season at the Ennismore Community Centre in the Robert E. Young Recreation Complex at 7:30 p.m. Their regular home arena, the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre, won’t be ready until Sept. 22.
The Chiefs went 4-1 during the exhibition season and Arcand is looking forward to the start of another campaign.
“We won’t be as offensive minded as we were last year but we have some big kids and will be heavy-hitting and hard-working,” he said. “We have five returning defenceman and will be a physical, shut-down team. We have skill but are big and strong. Some people don’t expect us to do that well but I think we will be OK. We may surprise a few.”
There are 20 players currently signed with three open cards. About half are back including five blueliners; new team captain Keenan Runnalls, Riley Campbell, Nick Hildebrand, Josh Duggan and Jordan MacLean. There is a lot of experience here with Runnalls, Campbell and Duggan joining returning forward Dalton Hill as the four overage players. Eric Oosting is also back to help up front.
Key names not back include leading scorer Travis Brault, last year’s captain Connor Blair, Ryan Anderson, Jesse Gregory, goaltender Zack Wainman, who was traded to league-mate Clarington Eagles, who ended the Chiefs’ season last year in the first round of playoffs, and netminder Jonathan Thain, who was released.
Newcomers include names like Jeff Hawthorne, who had a tryout with the Peterborough Petes, Colton Armstrong and goalie Brad Smith, out of AAA Minor Petes.
“Keenan is a gem of a kid and one of our hardest-working players,” said Arcand. “He is very coachable and isn’t afraid to say it in the dressing room.”
There are also some changes on the bench as with Arcand as assistants are Shawn Dunbar, Jason Hinze and Nick O’Brien. Tyler Revoy is GM.
The same seven teams are back, also including Uxbridge, Little Britain, Port Perry and North Kawartha.
Some changes include six teams making playoffs, up one from last year, and a new overtime rule where it begins with a three-on-three sudden victory and if still tied after that, it goes as a draw in the standings.
“I am excited to get the season started and be with the team from the start, my first time right through training camp and the exhibition games,” Arcand said. “I like the players we have and I am looking forward to see what we can do.”