Jr. A Lakers look to rebound
Mark Farthing, Jackson Gair join coaching staff after disappointing last-place finish last year
The 2016 season was a shocker for the Peterborough Merit Precision Jr. A Lakers.
Usually a top four contender, the Lakers went into the season thinking they’d once again be contenders. Instead, they missed the playoffs for the first time in decades and finished dead last.
A few changes have been made on and off the floor as they prepare for their home opener at 8 p.m. Friday against the Barrie Lakeshores at the Memorial Centre.
The only good thing about finishing last is you get the first overall draft pick and they believe they got a good one in transition player Zach Young. They also worked a deal to get former scoring star Holden Cattoni’s brother Taite Cattoni from Alberta.
They’ve also brought up four members of the junior C Lakers to augment their defence including Boyd DiClemente, Mitch Ogilvie, Matt Tamlin and goalie Drew Hutchison.
On the bench, Ken Watson, entering his second year as head coach, has added Mark Farthing as his defensive coach and Jackson Gair as offensive coach.
They started to rebuild at the trade deadline last year dealing Matt Gilray, Thomas Hoggarth and Cam Milligan, who were all graduating, to Minto Cup contenders. Other graduates are captain Dan Michel, Cole McWilliams, Dylan Hutchison, Brett Coons and Josh Miller.
Everyone who is eligible to return is expected back, although, Ethan Walker, Kyle Killen, Jake Fox, Cattoni, Tyler Gaulton and Jordan Stouros will filter back over the coming weeks from U.S. colleges.
Returning players who have been at training camp include Daniel Challice, Nick Finlay, Riley Morgan, Brad Lyons, Parker Sands and Brett LaFonte. Johnny Lynch is recovering from a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the team is uncertain when he might return.
Finlay says no one wants to go through another losing season.
“The guys coming back, even though not all are here yet, are excited and ready,” he said.
“For guys like Fox, Killen, Stouros and myself, it’s all our fifth year and everyone wants to win in their last year. It’s that little bit of extra motivation especially after last year. Peterborough has a winning tradition and we want to get back to that.” He thinks the changes will help. “We have a good core of guys,” Finlay said. “Our defence is strong. Last year that was an issue, we had lots of goals against. We’ve really changed the way we played our defence and I think that’s going to help our game and get some transition out of it. Most of the guys we are missing at school are offensive guys so, especially at the start of the year, we’re going to have to get offence from transition chances.”
Farthing joins the staff after leading the bantam Lakers to a provincial A championship last year. The Century 21 Lakers veteran is sidelined from playing until September following knee surgery so his focus is coaching. He says the goal is to win as many games as possible.
“When you put on the Peterborough jersey and you have the city watching at the Mem Centre yo do everything you can to win,” Farthing said.
He has been impressed by Young.
“He’s a great kid with a great attitude. He’s very well-mannered. He’s big and strong and athletic. He’s got good stick skills and a nose for the game. He’s a very good player and we’re excited to have him as part of our family,” Farthing said.
Farthing is excited to be part of the staff.
“This team was really good to me when I was younger and kind of shaped who I am and where I’ve gone and what I’ve done with my life,” he said.
“Coaches like Mat Giles and Dan Carey were mentors and really grabbed onto me and shaped who I am. I can only hope that I can grab onto some of these kids and give them that same kind of mentorship while at the same time realizing some on-floor success. That’s what I’m here to do.”