After a disappointing loss in the playoffs last season, the junior A Salmonbellies are back and they're getting ready for a tough road to the Minto Cup.
Head coach Dan Perrault said he's excited for this season to get started and hopes the team can build from last year as they continue towards the ultimate goal.
"We competed hard in the playoffs and fell a little short, but each year . our goal is to play for the Minto," he said. "We don't look at it like we're rebuilding."
This year's team is a mix of returning players, rookies and a few free agents the team was able to snatch up. Perrault said this mix will definitely help with the fairly young team they have this season.
"We're really excited about some of the young players moving up," he said.
Rookies Connor Robinson and Jeremy Bosher are two new players to look out for this season, according to Perrault. Both 17 year olds are coming straight out of Midget, but their new coach doesn't think their inexperience at the junior level will hinder either of them come game time.
"They understand the game (and) once they get their feet wet, they're going to really show they can play in the junior A league," he said.
The 'Bellies are also counting on some key returning players to help push them through to the playoffs and, eventually, the Minto Cup. Players like Josh Byrne, who light up the court during the playoffs last season - even scoring his first ever junior league hat trick in the quarter finals against the Victoria Shamrocks.
"He's going to be another guy we're going to rely on to put the ball in the net," he said.
New Westminster natives Byrne and Nathan Stewart are both returning to the Salmonbellies after playing with the team for part of the season last year. The two youths were called up from the intermediate level to the junior A team last season and Perrault said he was proud of the way they held their own during the playoffs.
"Now being (here) full-time, it's almost like they're not even rookies. They got to compete in the playoffs last year," he said. "The intensity of a playoff game is much greater than an exhibition game."
The Salmonbellies open the season on the road against their quarter final rivals the Victoria Shamrocks on April 27 in Victoria. The 'Bellies dominated the Shamrocks in a best-of-three sweep 2-0 in the playoffs last year. The first game of the series saw the 'Bellies defeat Victoria 12-10 and again in the second, this time13-6.
But previous wins don't count this season and Perrault is expecting a good competition come opening night.
"They're going to be a really good team this year . so it's going to be a good test for us," he said.
The junior Salmonbellies play their home opener on Tuesday, April 30 at 8 p.m. against the Coquitlam Adanacs.
