It was a debut for more than a group of unheralded players when the Delta Ice Hawks opened their pre-season schedule on Tuesday night at the Ladner Leisure Centre.
With the Pacific International Junior Hockey League regular season still three weeks away, the Hawks used the exhibition tilt against the Grandview Steeler to ice a line-up chock full of rookies with many playing their first ever junior game. The line-up will look vastly different when Delta gets down to business against defending champion Richmond Sockeyes on Sept. 10 but at least the fans got an opportunity to see the new coaching staff for the first time.
The club announced back in May former coaches Shane Kuss and Roger Ross were returning and would be joined behind the bench by alumni defenceman Mike Basford.
The three will continue to work together but it will be Ross in the leading role as head coach.
Kuss has a paid position with the South Delta Hockey Academy and also is head coach of its Minor Midget team that will have a heavy league and tournament schedule this coming season. His time with the Ice Hawks will be limited but the club will lean on his extensive experience for everything from player development to game strategy.
Kuss quietly watched Tuesday's game from a corner in the arena while Ross and Basford were behind the bench.
"Roger is in control of the team and he is our guy," confirmed Ice Hawks general manager and director of hockey operations Peter Zerbinos. "Shane will help out with practices and skill development but everything is really going to depend on his schedule. We work very closely with (director) Ian Gallagher and the hockey academy so it's a close tie in there and it all works out for the good."
Kuss and Ross guided the Ice Hawks to their one and only provincial championship back in 2006. They went on to finish third at the Keystone Cup Western Canadian Championship. That team included Basford who served as an alternate captain and was one of the key contributors on the blueline.
"These new coaches have been together for a long time and are a very tight unit that I think will be very successful for us," Zerbinos added. "Basford brings a lot of experience and will be a bridge between the coaches and the players too.
"They know what it takes to win and the last time we went to Westerns all three were there. We're proud to have them back."
The Ice Hawks will have a number of veterans returning, including goaltender Alex Anhert. They will have to wait on the status of potentially more, including last year's league scoring champion Mac Barden who is currently with Alberni Valley of the B.C. Hockey League.
