Lakeshore aiming for title
Lakeshore squad playing for Schmalz Cup after finally conquering rivals from Essex
The challenge for the Lakeshore Canadiens will be shifting gears. The club ended a seven-year title drought by knocking off the defending champion Essex 73’s in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s Bill Stobbs Division final.
Now, the Canadiens take aim at the organization’s first All-Ontario Schmalz Cup title since 1995 when they open quarterfinal play against the Lambeth Lancers. The best-of-seven series opens Tuesday at the Atlas Tube Centre. The puck drops at 8 p.m. “The thing you want to be careful of is them being happy that they’ve won, and that’s it, and they’ve accomplished something and they’re happy with it,” Canadiens first-year head coach Anthony Iaquinta said. “I think you want to try to make them understand the opportunity they have and get them hungry to be the best, rather than just being the best in your area.”
Few in the organization will deny that beating the 73’s exorcised a few demons for the Canadiens, who fell to Essex in the final in 2012, 2014 and in 2017, when Lakeshore was swept after being the top-ranked team. “Definitely it means a lot to me,” Canadiens captain Michael Long said. “We’ve always battled with Essex, or lost to Essex, and finally beating them means a lot.” Long is the last player left on the team that played for the club that was known as the Belle River Canadiens when he broke into the league in 2013-14.
“Last year, when we made the final and we were swept, I definitely wondered if there was ever going to be light at the end,” Long said.
He even briefly thought about moving on and focusing on school, but quickly set his mind to playing his final season. “Last year, losing was tough, and with school opportunities and planning for the future, I thought maybe it was time, but junior hockey’s not going to last,” the 21-year-old Long said. “You never want to give up your overage year and it’s been one of my favourite years playing hockey.” While he savoured his first league title, Long echoes Iaquinta’s thoughts about the possibility of making this playoff run even more special.
“Even though everyone was super happy we won, at the same
time, we looked at each other and said, ‘We’re not done here,’ ” Long said. “Everyone’s goal is to be a Schmalz Cup champion.” The Canadiens get a Lambeth squad coming of its first-ever Yeck Division title. A one-time powerhouse in junior D hockey, the Lancers moved up to junior C in 2006-07, but it took until this season to finally get into Schmalz Cup play.
“I guess there’s that element of surprise,” Long said. “It’s going to be a lot of feeling each other out that first game, but while we don’t know them, at the same time, they don’t know what our strengths are.”
The Canadiens also own the coin flip to decide home-ice advantage in this series and Iaquinta, who won a Schmalz Cup title as a player with Essex and went to the final while coaching with the 73’s, will take every advantage he can get. “At least you have the comfort of home,” said Iaquinta, who said his team needs to continue to improve its game. “I think everything just needs to be a little more crisp. Fewer errors. ”
I think you want to try to make them understand the opportunity they have and get them hungry to be the best ...