Chiefs retooling for Schmalz Cup defence after 10 players graduate
LAKEFIELD — Lakefield Chiefs head coach Jamie Arcand isn’t satisfied with just one Schmalz Cup championship.
Despite losing 10 players off last season’s Ontario junior C champions, Arcand once again has high expectations for 2018-19.
The Chiefs will celebrate their Schmalz Cup title one last time when they hold their home opener at 7:25 p.m. Saturday against the Amherstview Jets at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre.
They will host a pre-game party in the parking lot with music, food, drink and children’s activities. They’ll also acknowledge the new championship banner in the arena rafters.
“It’s more a fan appreciation for all the fans who followed us through the playoffs last year,” Arcand said. “It will be a special night to put a wrap on last season and the beginning of a new season.”
The club has lost a number of players to graduation or because they could only keep four of nine 1997-born players. Gone are top scorers Aaron Vatcher and Matt McIntyre as well as Ethan McDougall, Matt Carroll, Kevin Smith, Connor Ellis, Jordan MacLean, Evan Durant, Mike Connelly, Jacob Bennett and Nic Mutton.
They’ve got a number of key returning players including goalie Michael Christie, almost their entire defence with captain Braeden Kublick, Cole Robbins, Tarren Jank, Cole Ellis and Mitch Ogilvie, who will join them after the Guelph Gryphons field lacrosse season ends.
Returning up front are Jeff Hawthorne, Zac Treen, Carson Hartwick, Karn Dart, Evan Marlowe and Dawson Turcotte.
The club was busy recruiting. Three Ennismore boys who helped the juvenile Eagles to an OMHA championship who have AAA experience are on board in former OHL draft pick James Allen, Ethan Young and Adam Kitchen.
“James Allen has junior A experience with the Lindsay Muskies,” Arcand said. “We’re going to lean on those kids a lot with their experience of winning championships. We think they’re going to bring a lot to our team.”
They also convinced former AAA players Jordan Vivian and Jesse Merrill to come out after a couple of years off of hockey. They acquired front line forward Dalton Smith in a trade and former Markham Waxers AAA forward William Keith who is attending Fleming College. Jacob McPhee is a newcomer attending Trent University who will join them when the Excalibur varsity soccer season ends. Other newcomers include Riley Wade, Ryan Shaughnessy and goalie Andrew Barwinski.
“The kids we picked up and the kids who came to camp who made this team we have the absolute most confidence in,” Arcand said.
“We also have a lot to pull off of last year with the experience we gained in our playoff run. We’ll definitely lean on the guys who were there last season.”
Despite a 3-2 loss on the road last Friday to the Uxbridge Bruins, Arcand has only high expectations.
“Whether we can repeat or not we’ll have to wait and see. I think with the returning players we have, especially on the back-end,” Arcand said.
“Michael Christie in net who is one of those gamers who when everything is on the line he seems to rise to the occasion, my expectations are very high again. I’d like to say we’re going to attempt to repeat. That’s always the goal going into any season.”
The Chiefs visit the Georgina Ice on Friday night.