There may be more change to come for all things New Westminster junior lacrosse, but the joys of a new season on the horizon makes everything seem familiar.
A new coaching staff, a lot of new, young players pushing for positions, and a whole new reality with B.C. Lacrosse’s decision to create a five-year, multi-tier junior program has created opportunity and excitement that has carried through the pre-season so far.
Although the New West Salmonbellies don’t officially launch the B.C. Junior A season until May 7 – the last team to jump onto the floor after Victoria and Port Coquitlam kick off 2018 this Sunday – the players and coaches are anticipating the team’s first game like a kid before Christmas.
“With the guys who are in town all been battling hard together for a long time, and the coaches working with them, I’m sure we’ll be ready to play (May 7). Right now they’re chomping at the bit to start hitting someone else for a change,” remarked new ’Bellies head coach Rich Catton.
“Nothing like a game to get the nerves out.”
The transition from last year’s explosive squad, which advanced to the league playoff final before bowing out 4-1 to the Coquitlam Adanacs, to this year’s model is going see major changes. No longer powered by perennial all-star and two-time league MVP Connor Robinson and defensive stalwart James Belgrave, who were first-round picks this past winter in the Western Lacrosse Association’s junior draft, the ‘Bellies have players lining up to fill those roster spots.
Although 14 returnees were still away at college as of the Record’s deadline on Wednesday, a majority of those will be back in town and ready for that first game in Burnaby (May 7).
“I think by then we’ll have three-quarters of the (college players) in the lineup,” said Catton, who is joined behind the bench by offensive coach Daren Fridge and defensive coach Curtis Palidwor. “Thankfully we have a late start to the season, the last team I believe, to open the season, but it means we’ll have some weeks where we have two, three games to catch up to the rest of the league.”
Gone are Robinson and Preston Lupul, chosen first and seventh overall, respectively, by Langley, and Belgrave, who was the third player drafted, going to Nanaimo. A handful of other key contributors have also graduated.
Catton’s offence isn’t in complete rebuild mode, however; the trade for Tre Leclaire’s rights last month added a top talent who has two years of junior eligibility left was a huge get for the organization. Carter Dickson and Keegan Bell, another recent addition in a deal with PoCo, are key sticks who will be supplemented by a strong crop of young risers.
Defensively, a lot will revolve around last year’s B.C. junior top netminder, Erik Kratz, who is expected to join the club next week. The netminder was central to New West’s 15-4-0-1-1 record a year ago, posting a league-leading 6.15 goals against average and .845 save percentage.
“We think he’s the best junior goalie in Canada, so he’s a huge part of the team,” said Catton, who served as an assistant last year under Todd Stockdale. “I’m not sure how tough a transition it will be for (Leclaire), coming in to a new team but he has friends on our team and he’s a quick study. I think he’ll fit in well.”
Although New West has been on the cusp of a Minto Cup challenge for nearly the last 10 years, getting back to the national final will depend a lot upon what the next wave of talent brings – with names like Dylan McCormick, the first-overall pick in the 2017 midget draft, and Finn Stark among those expected to make an impact.
B.C. Lacrosse governors voted to eliminate the intermediate divisions and turn junior into a streamlined five-year format, with three B tiers offering a way to process talent and provide playing opportunities. It’s created some difficulties and a lot of questions, but the end should provide a great way to develop talent.
New West’s camp, which attracted junior returnees and a number of intermediate and midget graduates, saw that dynamic play out, giving the coaches another reason to be excited.
“It’s been very competitive, and I think (the New West junior B tier 1 team) are going to be a strong mix of intermediate A and returning junior kids. We’ve got a fantastic group of 2000 and 2001s coming up, who will be pushing for spots,” said Catton. “The great thing about (this new system) is we can pull up players when we need them, we can get looks and give them experience over the season. We understand that there are not many Connor Robinsons who can play five years of junior (A). Those players are few and far between.”
New West will be also fielding a tier 2 team, combining what last year was intermediate B and junior B.
Catton feels very comfortable with the offensive prospects, and expects the defensive side to be a work in progress, with the main focus for the first month all about the basics. He does have returning defensive standouts Max Gerhardt and Ryan Wilkinson to set the tone.
“We have great guys coming up and a strong leadership core coming back. I don’t know if (defence) is going to be harder to introduce but we will add some tweaks and things closer to the end of the season.”
New West’s first game of the season is May 7 in Burnaby. Their home opener is May 15 against Delta.
