Zajac determined to get Chiefs’ balance spot-on
ONE thing for certain when Leeds Chiefs take to the ice again – whenever that may be – is that they will be a younger, faster team than the one which started last season under Sam Zajac.
Although he was weeks behind his NIHL National coaching rivals in terms of planning this time last year – largely due to the fact he had only just been appointed – Chiefs’ player-coach Zajac was still able to put together a competitive team for the organisation’s first-ever season.
Factors largely outside of his and his players’ control may have led to a bottom-placed finish for the Chiefs before the season’s earlier-than-expected conclusion, but there were more than enough examples of what could-have-been for the Elland Road club.
As with all teams, changes were made throughout the season – some deliberate, others enforced – but, to a man, whether they were there from the start to the finish of the debut campaign or not, Zajac was grateful for each and every contribution.
Towards the end of the season, Zajac believed he was getting closer to the kind of team he wanted and, during the offseason, is continuing along a similar path in readiness for the 2020-21 campaign.
The addition of young prospects in the shape of 18-year-old Scottish winger Lewis Houston just before Christmas and, shortly before the trade deadline, 19-year-old Caly Robertson from Bracknell Bees and fellow forward Jordan Kelsall, 20, on a two-way deal from Elite League outfit Nottingham Panthers, were clear proof of the direction Zajac wished to be heading.
“With the changes we made as we went along last season and the further changes we’re looking to make this summer,
we’re going to be a younger team than last year, and a lot quicker,” said Zajac, who revealed he has around 70 per cent of his roster sorted for next season.
“When I look through the lineup that we’ve got so far, we look fast and we look dangerous – and that is over all three lines.
“We want to be playing on the front foot, taking the game to teams more, especially in our rink. We’ve got younger but we’ve still got plenty of experience in there and we’ll address areas where we had shortcomings and I believe we’ll have a better, allround balance.”