Rebuilding year? Dogs aim to win it all
Stellar recruiting in the off-season leaves the University of Saskatchewan Hockey Huskies looking stronger than ever, at least on paper.
There are no glaring weaknesses to speak of as the team gets set to open the 2008-09 Canada West conference regular season Friday and Saturday at home against the University of Manitoba Bisons. (Game time is 7 p.m. each night at Rutherford Rink.)
Team chemistry, consistency and leadership may be the only question marks. The latter has already been addressed with the selection of fifth-year Huskie forward Trent Adamus as the new captain. Adamus, a law student, will be flanked by Jason Wagar and Brett Parker, who return as assistants, plus newly-appointed assistant Evan Schafer. They look to fill the void following the departure of graduates Brent Twordik (captain), Curtis Austring and Mason Wallin.
“We lost a lost a lot of old guys and leadership, but there are lots of guys to fill spots, even third-year guys, and lots of great leadership from the young guys so they can step right in,” says Adamus.
Once again, the Hockey Dogs are solid in net with Canada West all-star Jeff Harvey and Russ Monette. The blue-line is deeper and, arguably, better than it’s ever been with returnees Schafer, Derek Endicott, Jesse Zetariuk, Mark Hinz and Cole Simpson joined by a kettle full of promising pups. Blue-chipper Chad Greenan (Kootenay Ice), who quarterbacked Kootenay’s power play, leads the way. R.J. Larochelle (Vancouver Giants, WHL), Zach Sim (Kootenay, WHL), Matt Swaby (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL) and Curtis Patterson, a former Saskatoon Blade, give the Dogs considerable depth and choice on the blueline despite the loss of power-play quarterbacks Stephen Mann, Scott Roy and Brett Dickie.
“I’m a little concerned about our power play right now,” said U of S coach Dave Adolph. “We need a power-play quarterback. I’m not sure who that’s going to be. You can see how we struggled bringing the puck up the ice (in pre-season). There are a lot of things we need to work through. The bottom line is we’ve got the defensive zone cohesiveness that we needed. We can work on all the rest the rest of the year.”
Up front, the biggest catch of all is Saskatoon native Steven Da Silva (Kootenay), a true sniper who scored 40 goals in 68 WHL games last season to go along with 49 assists. Shaun Vey (TriCity Americans) also put up big numbers with 27 goals and 46 assists for 73 points in 70 games. Chris Durand (Saskatoon Blades) is another topline WHL performer, a former second-round NHL draft pick who scored 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 62 games. Winger Michael Kaye has left for an AHL tryout but could yet re-surface at the U of S.
Da Silva made an immediate impact in preseason with six goals in four games.
“We’ve got a really good team,” says Da Silva, the former Kootenay captain, who, along with Swaby, a former captain of the Oil Kings, give the Dogs two more former WHL captains on their captain-laden roster. “A lot of the guys are young, but they’re ready to play big roles on this team. The older guys are really helping us out. They’re showing us what it takes to win. The game against Alberta was a real eye-opener for all the young guys, just how fast you can score in this league. Now that we know what it takes to win and be successful in this league, we have a really good chance at winning it.” Big things are also expected of Vey and Durand. “Vey and Durand are probably going to take a little time,” says Adolph. “They come from programs where you have to defend first. Just look at the numbers they put up — they’re very capable.”
RoundingoutthenewcomersareTravisBrisebois (Swift Current, WHL, Vernon Vipers, BCHL), David Linsley (Spokane WHL, Flin Flon SJHL), Jarrid Dowhay (Prince Albert WHL, La Ronge, SJHL) and Bryan Kauk (Brandon, WHL, Dauphin Kings, MJHL), who give the Dogs enough depth to release third-year veterans Brett Novak and Dan Erlandson.
Exciting times
“We really recruited well over the summer,” says second-year Huskie forward Casey Lee, a top playoff performer as a rookie last season. “I’m excited — everyone in the room is excited. I know we lost a lot of veteran guys from last year and this was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but we don’t think this will be a rebuilding year. We want to win a championship. Hopefully we can win a national championship. “We’re ready.” Returning forwards include Adamus, Parker, Wagar, Lee, Colin Patterson, Steve Gillen, Brad Erickson and Myles Zimmer.
“You’ll see Colin Patterson have a better year because there are more offensive players,” said Adolph.
Gone are a couple of leaders and heart-and-soul types in Twordik and Austring, plus the speedy Wallin, Jeff Schmidt, Garett Soparlo and Cody Purves, who did not return to school. Brisebois is a Purves-like player, a tireless two-way forward who can kill penalties.
“Definitely, it’s a great group of young guys, a lot of skilled forwards and great defencemen,” says Adamus, one of two fifth-year Huskies on the squad still looking for that elusive national championship after four straight appearances.
“It’s been tough going to the last four nationals and not getting one. It’d be nice to end it on a bang and get a national championship this time.”
