The Sicamous Eagles have a new voice on their bench in Liam McOnie, who coached the North Okanagan Knights last season. McOnie touches on the motivation of his group and the players who can be difference makers in their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Quick Shift team preview.
KIJHL: What should fans be excited about when it comes to this team?
LM: We have a lot of returning players with chips on their shoulders. They are motivated and disappointed with the way things ended for them last season. (Note: The Eagles lost in seven games in the opening round round of the Teck Cup playoffs.)
KIJHL: What areas are you looking to improve from last season?
LM: We are working to become a little more risk averse as individuals and a team, and ultimately play a more physical style.
KIJHL: You added defenceman Colton Fleming and forward Ashton Gallagher in trades, what do you like about each that they will bring?
LM: Fleming is a player I’ve known for years and brings an older presence with solid two-way ability. He is a strong defender and an offensive threat at 5-on-5 and on the power play.
Gallagher is an explosive skater with great playmaking and goal-scoring ability. He’s a dynamic forward who is bringing a lot to the table with our group on the ice and in the dressing room. Gallagher played as a rookie in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Northern Blizzard, producing 10 points in 39 games.
KIJHL: Are there any returning players that you are expecting to have big seasons? Talk about what you are hoping to see from them.
LM: I expect Ashton Angle to produce quite a bit more than he did last season (14 points in 30 games). He does a lot of things really well, and is strong with his stick and does a good job of winning puck battles and making plays in tight areas.
Devon Barclay can create offence. He’s a big kid and is beginning to use his size (6-3, 198 pounds) a bit more effectively to create space for himself to extend puck possession and open up lanes. Barclay had 28 points in 37 games.
KIJHL: Are there first-year players who are able to make a seamless transition to make an immediate impact?
LM: All of our first-year players have done a very good job so far of creating individual identities for themselves and finding roles in the lineup. Emry Stewart has done a very good job of establishing himself as a defensive centreman, who is effective on the penalty-kill. Max Kinnee has found ways to produce and has scored four goals in three pre-season games. We won’t be looking at points and stats to evaluate which player has the biggest impact, but who is able to stick to their identity and role to execute at the highest level.
KIJHL: When it comes to your leadership group, what are the important characteristics that you want each player to possess?
LM: I think for our leadership group we are really looking for competitors. We want players who hate to lose, and who are willing to do whatever it takes during practices and workouts to make sure our team is in the best position to have success. We want to establish a strong culture of team-first mentality.
