The defending Pacific International Junior Hockey League champions don't plan on missing a beat even with a significant overhaul to their roster.
When the Delta Ice Hawks open the regular season on Tuesday night (7: 30 p.m.) in Ladner against the North Delta Devils, there will be 11 players on the scoresheet who weren't part of last spring's championship run. Yet, head coach Dave McLellan suggests he will be disappointed if his team isn't challenging for a title again
"From what we have seen (in training camp) we are pretty excited," said McLellan following his team's 8-3 pre-season win over Mission on Tuesday with a predominantly rookie line-up. "We feel we have added in some areas where we think we have actually improved over last year. There is a very good work ethic and we have some good guys who drive to the net hard.
"Our youth movement is pretty solid and our (affiliate player) system has really worked out well for us."
The Ice Hawks do have plenty of familiar faces on the bluelineled by Alex Martin, Ryan Cuthbert and Mark Whiteley. All three have passed on junior 'A' opportunities to remain with the Delta program.
Thrown in another returnee - 17 year-old David Rudin - and the Ice Hawks have two pairings loaded with experience.
Up front, 20-year-olds Aaron Merrick and Anthony Brito head a group of returning forwards that also includes Kody Botterhill and Grange Gordon. Merrick led the team with 29 goals last season while Brito added 26 and was terrific in the playoffs with 23 points in 19 games.
In net, Alex Anhert recently informed the club he plans on continuing his junior career and will share the crease work with 17-year-old Scott Lapp who was acquired in a trade from Mission and has looked terrific in the preseason.
What has the coaching staff excited is the quality of young talent that has been recruited.
For the past two seasons, the Ice Hawks have not had a 16-year-old on their roster. This time, there isn't enough room for all of them with the league rule of only two per team at the junior "B" level.
One of those spots will go to blueliner Matt Dawson who played for South Delta Minor's Midget A1 team last season and is a product of the Ice Hawks spring program.
Forward Josh Murphy is another 16-year-old prospect and is one of four forwards from the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League's Greater Vancouver Canadians now wearing Ice Hawk colours. The group includes local product Michael Olson-Eyre, who was second in scoring with the Canadians.
"Our goal is to get our younger players playing as much as they can up to Christmas," added McLellan. "It's an impressive group and credit goes to ownership and (general manager) Peter (Zerbinos) for doing their part in creating a professional mindset here that players want to be a part of."
