Lakeshore eyeing final step toward title
The Lakeshore Canadiens aren’t anticipating a big change with Anthony Iaquinta taking over as head coach.
Iaquinta is the team’s third head coach in three years and replaces Justin Solcz, who stepped down after guiding the Canadiens to a firstplace finish in the regular season in the Bill Stobbs Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League.
“I don’t think you’ll see a huge transition,” Canadiens captain Mike Long said. “Every coach has his own style. They’re different, but at the same time they’re the same. They’re composed and there for a reason and that’s to win and develop players.”
What the 21-year-old Long is more focused on is taking the final step to a title after losing in last year’s final. The first step is Friday when Lakeshore opens the regular season at home against the Wheatley Sharks. Game time at the Atlas Tube Centre is 7 p.m.
“There’s always one goal at the end of the season and that’s to win,” Long said. “It’s never easy to lose in the final, but it motivates me and a lot of guys to come out stronger than ever.
“It’s like a fire in you. It hurts, but it motivates you and gives you that edge on ice.”
Iaquinta, who spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the junior B Leamington Flyers, has a solid base to work with.
“I’m fortunate there’s 13 returning players,” Iaquint said. “I didn’t have much to fill.”
Mitch Topliffe returns for an overage season after winning the division’s best individual goalie award while the club picked up veteran Erik Morneau in a trade with Wheatley.
“We’ve got a pretty good onetwo punch there,” Iaquinta said. “They’ll push each other.”
Long was named the division’s best defenceman last season and is one of five returning players on the blue line along with Kristian Flipovski, Colin Sator, Luke Mahon and Colton Coates. The Canadiens
will also break in rookies Jake Bailey and Mitch Chittle.
“Five returning is nice,” Iaquinta said.
Up front, Connor Rosaasen, who led the team with 31 goals and 64 points, returns along with Mejoe Gasparovic, who had 47 points in 38 games and Kyler Carter, who had 45 points in 33 games. The club also returns Brandon Ireland, who was a point-per-game player, Steve Sartor, Ameen Fadel, Jarrett Tazzman and Lucas Gignac.
“We’ll have some firepower for sure,” Iaquinta said.
Lakeshore, which led the division in scoring last season, will also feature first-year forwards Matt Smith, Matt Teno, Dylan Bradley, Matt Fraser, Hunter Bailey and Kyle Brothers.
All the pieces are in place for the Canadiens take a run at the title, but Iaquinta said it has to come from the players.
“Our team, I think, is pretty skilled and we can use our speed to put teams back on their heels, but if you don’t work it doesn’t work,” Iaquinta said. “It’s not really me. I just guide them. They have to work hard.
“When you have a team this old, expectations are high, but it doesn’t just happen. They have to put the work in and be the ones that ultimately determine what we do.”