Vipers season preview

by Evan Mathias

After losing their five top point scorers from last season the Lasalle Vipers were expected to struggle this year, so far though, they haven’t.

Lasalle opened their season with a lopsided 8-2 win over the St. Mary’s Lincolns. A game that head coach Bob Bowler said was a good start for the young players.

“It’s a good two points and good to get some guys on the board early on,” said Bowler.

The Vipers followed up with a road win against the St. Thomas Stars.

LaSalle lost four forwards over the summer: former captain Eric Noel due to age restrictions, Dylan Seguin in a trade to Leamington, Dylan Denomme and Korey Morgan both to the British Columbia Hockey League. Defenceman Scott Prier accompanied Denomme and Morgan to British Columbia.

The Vipers roster now has less than ten returning players on it from last season.

“With this many new faces it’s going to be challenging,” said Bowler. “I think there is 14 or 15 new players.”

Bowler said early in the season is a time to help develop younger players.

“It’s a time for the coaches to learn the player’s abilities, their strengths, their weaknesses and try to help them with their weaknesses,” said Bowler. “There is no quick way to do this, it is a process.”

Bowler said they would rely heavily on the few returning players for guidance and leadership, but younger players would still get opportunities.

“If younger guys perform and deserve to be out there, then they will be,” said Bowler.

Bowler said being a new coach has its challenges because his coaching style and systems may be different than that of other teams.

“We may ask players to do things differently, which isn’t the players’ fault,” said Bowler. “It is just something that takes time.”

The Vipers have three returning defenceman and only Nathan Veres has played thus far. However Bowler said he doesn’t see that in a negative light.

“We have some quality people in here, we like the people we have assembled and the character of the people,” said Bowler.

Veres agreed with Bowler about the talent level of their defencemen this season.

“We have a lot of good guys this year, I was really surprised, I wasn’t sure how it was going to be, but we have played really good as a (defensive core),” said Veres. “I like the leadership role that I’m going to be taking on this season.”

Highlighted so far this season is the performance of rookie defenceman and Windsor Spitfires third-round draft pick Andrew Burns.

Through the first three games he has three points and has played well defensively.

“I just want to do what I do best, try to be involved offensively but still keep my defensive play at par,” said Burns.

He said his time at the Spitfires camp has made an impact on his game.

“Extra effort put in at Spits camp, the battling in corners (for the puck), a tougher mentality coming out of camp (has given me) that upper edge,” said Burns.

Despite his age and the age of his fellow defenceman, Burns said he doesn’t feel intimidated and is ready to play.

“I think all of our 97’s are very strong, as well as our 96’s, just all the young guys are definitely ready to play at this level,” said Burns.

The Vipers are an inexperienced team. LaSalle is a team that requires seasoning. They are a young team that will need to learn to stay focused, regardless of a win or loss.

“I think because were such a young team its going to be hard at times,” said Veres. “During the rough times, to be able to get it going again.”