The Buccaneers want to skate from one end of the ice to the other, and then bang and crash when they get there.
The Bucs are out to play fast, physical hockey as they embark on another Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season.
Nanaimo’s junior B squad resembles last year’s team, but there are some notable differences, including behind the bench where Curtis Toneff has joined the organization as the new coach.
So far, he said, he likes the team’s pace of play and the way guys are catching on to what the coaching staff is asking of them. Some promising traits are emerging, he said.
“I think we have a team that is hard on the puck, a team that wants to control the pace of the play, a team that has a good identity of team toughness,” he said.
The sense of team is evident, he said, and even fans in the stands will be able to pick up on it.
“You’re going to see a lot of guys with pride in the jersey they’re wearing, especially with the local flavour that we have again this year,” Toneff said.
Here’s a look at the 2017-18 Nanaimo Buccaneers:
FORWARDS
“We’re going to have a balanced four-line attack where if one night one group’s not going, then the next line’s going to step up,” the coach said.
The top line to start the year will be Clayton Peace centring Jayden Schubert and Mathieu Jallabert. Toneff said Schubert will be a key scoring power forward for the Buccaneers and will be a force in the league.
Cam Nickerson returns to the Buccaneers after a stint in junior A and provides scoring and many other attributes and Owen Dalman returns to the organization and plays a spirited, versatile game. Noah Kelly is a newcomer to watch with the speed to burn opposing defenders. Booker Chacalias, a late cut from junior A, Trey Watson and Luc Wilson are some of the other contributors in the forward ranks.
DEFENCE
Toneff said he likes the balance in the back end, both with the various skill sets, and also with youths and veterans.
Team captain Coleman Doney is the leader of the D and plays with poise, and Seamus O’Toole developed into a key two-way defender over the course of last season. Dylan Hartl and Lucas Patton will be relied upon to play a lot of minutes and Alex Richardson is a veteran contributor.
GOALTENDERS
Blake Wood and Derek Krall form the Buccaneers’ goaltending tandem this year. Toneff said the netminders get along well, but will push each other.
GAME ON
The Buccaneers host the Oceanside Generals on Thursday (Sept. 7) at 7:15 p.m. at the Nanaimo Ice Centre. For ticket information, visit buccaneers.vijhl.com.
Nanaimo Buccaneers announce Coleman Doney as team captain. Mathieu Jallabert, Cam Nickerson and Jayden Schubert will be alternates… pic.twitter.com/JFjhHOcbIR
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) September 7, 2017