There’s blind optimism – see Trevor Linden – and realistic optimism.
The New Westminster junior A Salmonbellies fall squarely in the latter group.
The B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League club's management has its feet planted on the ground when it voices expectations and goals for the upcoming 2017 season.
With one of the game’s most dynamic offensive stars on board, and a strong core of returnees, coach Todd Stockdale feels safe in putting his expectations on high for the year after last season’s third place finish.
“For sure, our goal is to win this year and get to a Minto Cup,” said Stockdale, in his second season behind the ’Bellies bench.
“We have a lot of good talent and leaders, but you can never look too far in our league. There are too many good teams.”
Beginning with Connor Robinson, the 2016 BCJLL scoring champ, and Jeremy Bosher, New West is loaded up front with talented sticks. Brine Rice, a key midseason acquisition a year ago, is coming back from Ontario to bolster the squad's two-way game, as is Alberta recruit Colton Bykowsky.
On defence, meanwhile, only one player graduated, and netminder Erik Kratz, with his .819 save percentage, sets a stingy tone. Newcomers include Jayden Campbell and Chandler Bradley, who were acquired in the offseason from Delta to finalize a swap at last year's deadline, will bring slick stick skills to Queen's Park.
Robinson, Bosher, Campbell and Bradley will miss the first few weeks or more of the regular season due to college commitments. All told, the team has 14 players attending Canadian or U.S. colleges, resulting in a delayed reaction when it comes to demonstrating the club's full potential.
That provides a window for intermediate grads and aged players Nick Hannay, Erik Maas and Will Malcom, as well as first-year intermediate Cole Catton, to impress – and so far in camp they have.
General manager Warren Goss is blunt in his expectations for a core group that has been together a handful of seasons.
"We don't have a lot of openings on this year's team, as this is a group we've been focused on for a few years," said Goss. "It's the deepest team we have had and I think we're going to be bigger, stronger and faster than we've been in a long time.
"The (third-year juniors) are the core of what we feel is capable of getting to the Minto Cup."
Offence and defence are equally balanced, he noted, with size and speed. From the backend, the 'Bellies can match up with anyone.
"Kratz's numbers from last year were second-best in the league all around, and he's right up there with (Coquitlam's Christian) del Bianco," added Goss.
With but a couple of positions up for grabs, the competition in the first month will provide as much a glimpse into the program's future as it will of the present. The early opportunities for intermediate-aged players will be a measuring stick to see who is ready for the next step.
“We know what each player brings to the table, so there’s a lot to be optimistic about,” added Stockdale.
New West plays exhibition games this Saturday in Mission against PoCo, and Apr. 23 in Langley against the Thunder.
They open the regular season on April 28 in PoCo.
