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New faces, hopes part of Chiefs' mantra to start 2019/20 hockey season

Like a typical election period, the start of the hockey season is full of promise and hope. Once the writ -- or in this case, the puck -- is dropped, the goal is to get the 'W.' The main difference is that for the players of the B.C.
Chiefs newlook
The Vancouver Northeast Chiefs kicked off the 2019/20 major midget hockey season with a pair of tough losses to the defending champion Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. They open their home schedule this weekend at Burnaby's 8-Rinks.

Like a typical election period, the start of the hockey season is full of promise and hope. Once the writ -- or in this case, the puck -- is dropped, the goal is to get the 'W.'

The main difference is that for the players of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League’s Vancouver Northeast Chiefs, there’s no script.

A lot of new faces are looking to take the premier midget circuit by storm, while a handful of veterans have taken the torch from the graduating group of last season, shouldering a leadership role.

Add in a new face at coach, and you have an ideal situation where expectations are untethered to past efforts and expectations.

Chiefs coach Jim Camazzola notes that the learning curve for players making the leap to major midget, from the bantam and minor midget ranks, is fairly steep, but it’s all part of a maturing process as they continue to chase ‘the dream.’

“This is a young group and we have just four returnees from last season,” said Camazzola, who coached the program’s minor midget team a year ago. “It’s usually the second year where you get (the success), so it’s all about learning and a process.”

The BCMML season kicked off last weekend, when the 8-Rinks-based Chiefs ventured out to the Fraser Valley to play the defending champion Thunderbirds, and came away with identical 5-3 losses.

Building a team often requires patience and an ability to adjust the plan as players progress. Camazzola says at this stage, everyone is still composing chemistry experiments with new linemates and pairings.

“The biggest challenge for the players right now is understanding what the coaching staff wants,” he said. “I believe in a structured game. … If you run all around you get burned pretty easily. That kind of showed in the first game.”

The Chiefs, who have dibs on players from New West, east Burnaby, the Tri-Cities, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, have typically been a serious challenger every second season. If the cycle runs true to form again, this year will feature its share of hard knocks but still see them in the playoff picture come February.

Against Fraser Valley on Saturday, Vancouver fell behind 1-0 before first-year forward Jack Foster tied it at 11:25 into the opening frame. But the T-birds exploded for four straight goals in the second period, chasing starting netminder Joshua Kotai.

Ben Fontaine, one of the returning players from last season, and Owen Philps, who spent the 2018/19 season with the rival Northwest Hawks, brought the Chiefs to within two goals. Unfortunately, they were unable to put any other shots behind the Valley netminder.

The Chiefs scored first on Sunday, with rookie Ante Zlomislic making it 1-0 at 13 minutes into the first period. While Fraser Valley tied it five minutes later, and counted two more midway through the second, Burnaby’s Kaidan Johnson brought the visitors to within a goal with 1:34 remaining in the second period.

But the T-birds had another two-goal burst, both by Dawson Good, that put the game out of reach. Second-year forward and Coquitlam native Christian Lowe netted Vancouver’s third goal with nine seconds left on the clock.

While the result was disappointing, Camazzola said the main positive was how much better the team played in the second game, with a flurry of penalties being the main obstacle.

“In the first game we weren’t very good. We were nervous and our execution wasn’t where we wanted it. We were much better in the second game, and showed a lot of grit in trying to get back in the game.”

Last year, the Chiefs put on quite a run under coach Jeff Urekar, finishing third overall with a 25-8-5-2 record, just three points back of regular season champion Fraser Valley. Their run ended in the playoff semifinals.

Among the leaders last year, Maple Ridge’s James Bohn and Logan Kurki, Port Moody’s Ryan Tattle and New West's Dante Ballarin have all made the junior A jump to the Coquitlam Express, while the Trail Smoke Eaters signed Burnaby natives Jackson Murphy-Johnson and netminder Logan Turness. PoCo’s Quinton Hill and Maple Ridge’s Cody Hough have gone further east, signing with the Weyburn Red Wings and Humboldt Broncos, respectively, in Saskatchewan.

With a rookie-heavy lineup this time around, many would suggest that this season will have more moral victories than tangible ones. Camazzola understands that line of thinking, but feels the talent and makeup of his squad could surprise.

“We might be middle-of-the-pack, but you never know,” he said. “My goal is primarily to just be competitive. I want the kids to put the effort in, that if we win – great. But if you’re pushing and in the game right to the end, that’s something we can work with.”

Camazzola has coached hungry teenagers before. After hanging up the skates as a player, he’s coached at various levels, including at the Burnaby Winter Club, in the Italian pro league, at SFU and junior B in Delta. The major midget mindset is a challenging time for players where the separation between the hard workers and naturally talented get tested.

“It’s not a lot different from (coaching minor midget),” the coach said. “I’ve got to be a bit more on them, because the next level is junior. They all want that carrot, so you’ve got to push them a bit. … We’ve got a good group here, and I’m pleased with their work ethic and effort so far.”

This year’s roster includes New West blueliner Markus Johansen, who spent last season with the Delta Hockey Academy, as well as a handful of Burnaby talents, including returnees Nicco Camazzola, the lone second-year defenceman, and forward Dante Berrettoni. Rookies Jaden Christian-Uy, Daniel Juca, Tanner Terness and Thomas Vela are also part of the new wave, with Vela transferring in after a season with the South Island Royals.

This weekend the North East Chiefs hold their home opener on Saturday, 4:30 p.m. in their first of two against the North Island Silvertips at Burnaby’s 8-Rinks. They close the two-game series on Sunday, 11:30 p.m. at 8-Rinks.