The Vancouver Northeast Chiefs may be leaving Coquitlam for new digs at Burnaby’s Canlan Ice Sports 8-Rinks, but the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League team still has strong ties to the Tri-Cities.
They also have a lot of rebuilding to do.
Even though they’re coming off 32-5-0 record that was good enough for second overall in the 11-team league, all of their players that are eligible to return this season have gone up the hockey ladder, or could in short order.
One of those is winger Zach Dallazanna of Port Moody, who could be heading for Trail in the BCHL.
And the Chief’s top scorer last year, 15-year-old Ethan Leyh of Anmore, is going to the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL, en route to the University of Wisconsin where he’s already accepted a scholarship for 2018-’19.
Coquitlam’s Kyler Kovich could be one player coach Jamie Jackson will look toward to fill their absence. The left winger already caught the attention of the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League who selected him 78th overall when he was playing AAA bantam at Burnaby Winter Club.
“We’ve got to start all over again,” said Jackson. “It’s something we’ve been through before, and the last time we faced that challenge it worked out well.”
Three seasons ago the organization played the underdog role to the hilt, ending up as 2014-15 provincial champions. The following year was a transition season, where newcomers and youngsters blended to gain confidence at the major midget level. While last season ended with a disappointing playoff exit, falling 2-1 to the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the semifinals last March, Jackson said there’s reason for optimism for the program that’s produced bonafide stars like the NHL’s Ryan Johansen and Patrick Wiercioch and Seattle T-birds star Matthew Barzal.
“I feel this is probably the youngest group, but we definitely have impressive potential on defence,” Jackson said. “They are all hard working and quality hockey players.”
The team’s move to Burnaby doesn’t become a reality until Aug. 15, when they’re handed the keys to the dressing room at 8-Rinks that was once used by the Vancouver Canucks.
Jackson’s confident his rebuilding program for the Chiefs will go better than that of his future dressing room’s predecessor.
“What the program has done commands a level of respect and helps us maintain a stand we always want to be at,” Jackson said.
