Junior Canadians turn the page
Chris Lukey is excited to help start a new chapter in the history of the Welland Junior Canadians.
Lukey, a 49-year-old Niagara Falls native, has been on the job as the new head coach for almost for three months since taking over for Keith Osborne and he has some very specific ideas on how he wants to approach the position.
“Obviously I can’t speak about on what went on but I know how I’ve evolved as a coach over the years. Kids want to come to the rink and be happy and have fun,” he said. “We’re at a point where we want to let people know there are a lot of positive changes coming.”
The Junior Canadians, who haven’t made it past the first round of the Golden Horseshoe playoffs since 2015, are coming off a miserable 2018/19 campaign that saw them finish with an 8-38-1-1 record.
“We’re not starting from scratch, but we’re definitely in a growth and rebuild stage, for sure,” said Lukey, who played at the Ontario Hockey League for Kingston and Windsor. “We’re looking at changing the culture and bringing in a positive environment.”
Lukey said he expects to have 8-10 players return from last season.
“We’re always looking to improve the team as well,” said Lukey, who guided the Niagara North Stars AAA major midgets to back-to-back Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship appearances. “We’re recruiting hard and talking to a lot of people and letting them know the changes are positive.
“It’s going to be a structured, well-run program and we’re still in it to win in, regardless of what anyone says. We’re looking to be competitive as we can be.”
Lukey wants to build the team from the back end out.
“Our starting goaltender (Alex Vendette) is gone. We’re looking for someone who can keep us in games and steal us some games. If we can get some solid goaltending, some mature defence and some puck-moving defencemen, that’s a big part of the systems we’re going to play and the culture we’re going to develop.”
Lukey said the organization has been beating the bushes looking for talent.
“We’ve been doing a lot of scouting and trying to cast a really large net and hopefully trying to find a few diamonds in the rough,” he said. “We’re looking for kids who want come to the arena and work hard every day and put in the effort, and more importantly, want to learn and grow and develop.”
The club has signed 17-year-old Lucas Trimarchi, who played three games last year as an associated player.
“I was really impressed with Lucas at our opening rookie camp so we signed him immediately,” Lukey said. “There are some kids out of the midget program that put up good numbers.”
Lukey will be assisted by former St. Catharines Falcons and pro player Dalton Leveille, who was drafted in the first round of the 2008 National Hockey League draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, long-time minor coach Craig Slack, and goalie coach Glen Baraniuk.
“We’re all about growing and developing and teaching and learning. I think every kid who steps on the ice wants that. They want to come to the rink and learn.
“We’ll have our moments and frustrations. We’re a young, rebuilding team but it’s a great learning opportunity for everybody.”
The Junior Canadians open camp Aug. 15 in Pelham.
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