Brad Parker calls it a homecoming, but home for the former 1977 Burnaby Cablevision player was never like this.
Parker helped the famed Cables to the first of three consecutive Minto Cup national junior A lacrosse titles in the late 1970s. Now, as the new head coach of the Burnaby juniors, the retired police chief has perhaps his biggest sporting challenge ahead of him.
The once storied five-time Minto Cup champion junior Lakers are coming off their worst season on record.
Burnaby’s only win last year came via an 11-10 victory over visiting Nanaimo in early May.
The Laker juniors ended the season on a 17-game losing slide, while continuing their recent practice of selling off assets at the league’s trade deadline.
“It’s a complete culture change,” said Parker, who head coached in New Westminster’s successful intermediate and junior programs for five seasons. “I think the kids just need a good grounding and get back to basics. This particular situation was quite dire.”
Getting players to recommit to the Burnaby club goes deeper than just simple recruitment, said Parker.
Improving the communication lines with junior B and intermediate team partners will also make for a better on-floor product when players are called upon to play up, he added.
Parker also plans to build a better working relationship with the senior A Laker club.
“I’m not going to dwell in the past, I’m going to move forward,” Parker said. “A lot of these good young players haven’t had the chance to develop.”
Burnaby took a good first step in the new year, picking up runner Corey Wong from Port Coquitlam in January.
The Lakers also added Ryan Vogrig, David Mathers, Randy Jones and Nick Kapusty in an earlier trade with Delta.
At the midget entry draft, Burnaby picked up intermediate A scoring champion Tyler Vogrig from Richmond with the No. 1 overall pick. Vogrig led the A league with 69 goals and 119 points last season.
Parker will be joined behind thebench by assistants Jason Dalla-Valle running the offense and son Gordie Parker handling the defensive door.
The team has been in training for the past two months, and Parker says it has taken a commitment from both sides.
“We’ll get you where you want to go (in lacrosse), but you have to buy in. This is a good news story. We’re moving forward,” he said.
