Anticipation Building for 2008

‘Tis the season… and it’s better than Christmas.

BCJALL action is finally here! Exhibition games are underway, the Ball Breaker Tournament is this weekend (April 18, 20th), and the much anticipated first regular-season game (April 23rd) is a showdown between the Burnaby Lakers and South Fraser Stickmen; who were the first and last place teams respectively, from last years regular season.

As expected, the last couple of months have been spent practicing and preparing for the upcoming season. Also included is player shuffling between teams, to bring new blood and energy into the mix.

Goaltending was going to be a thorn in Burnaby’s side this season if they didn’t acquire a new netminder. Adam Meakes graduated from Jr. after their run for the Minto last season, and Angus Goodleaf decided to go back to Ontario to finish his junior career for ’08.

So as-of the first week of April, the Lakers managed to get Nanaimo Timbermen goalie Tom Wray. Wray is in his final year of junior, stands 6’7 and 220lbs, and dressed in all 21 games for Nanaimo last year. In those 21 games Wray played 888 minutes, was a hair shy of an 83 save percentage, and had an 8.78 GAA. In exchange for their goalie, the Timbermen received a third round pick in both the 2009 and 2010 Midget Draft from Burnaby.

But the Lakers weren’t done, they also acquired South Fraser goalie Brandon Smith for a future pick in the Midget Draft. Like Wray for Nanaimo, Smith played in all 21 games for Surrey last year, faced 533 shots and had 568 minutes on the floor. Both Smith and Wray will have the ball breaker tournament this weekend to prove themselves worthy as the starting goalie for the reigning BCJALL champs.

Most active with player trades before the ’08 season is no doubt South Fraser. In Smith’s absence, they signed free agent Mike Lowe to their squad. Lowe was aged up by Delta last season, where he played an impressive 965 minutes, and posted a save percentage just shy of 82%. Considering his age, Lowe comes to the Stickmen with three years left in his junior career; meaning South Fraser will have a solid netminder to build with the team over the next couple of seasons.

The Stickmen had a hard time dealing Shawn Rowan to Delta for a pick in the ’09 Midget Draft. Rowan has spent two years in the Surrey Intermediate program, as well as the last two years on the Junior squad.

South Fraser GM Paul Sparrow says getting rid of local talent is never easy, “Shawn has a better chance of getting more floor time in Delta as we feel he will fit their system better. Since this is his last year of Junior, the staff here would like to see him get the best opportunity he deserves to showcase his talent.”

One more trade for South Fraser, the acquisition of Anthony Besse from the Coquitlam Adanacs for another ’09 Midget Draft pick. Besse brings some size, and a solid defensive mind to the Stickmen- as well as another body for their transition play. Besse played all-but-three regular season games with the Adanacs, and brings some post-season experience to the team as well. It was a classic trade for both teams, since what Coquitlam had, South Fraser wanted and needed.

“A three year junior program is all about numbers and age,” says Adanacs' GM Ken Wood, “in the case of Besse, we had a third year defender who we would have liked to keep, but we also have a lot of young up and coming talent from our home grown players that we can get in the lineup for three years. Anthony is a tremendous team player who is well liked around Coquitlam. By moving him to the Stickmen, he goes from a team where he would most likely play every second or third game- where as in South Fraser he will be a steady force in their line-up for his last year of Junior. He adds solid back end play and will be a great addition for them.”

To see all the new players in action, come out for the Ball Breaker Tournament this weekend- APRIL 18-20 at the PoCo Rec Center. There are three games per night, starting at 6pm. Also check the BC Jr website for the regular season schedule.