by Jeff Bromley
Okay, time stops for no man or for no team but for what it's worth, here's a look at the Kootenay Ice for next year.
1. They'll be a new look team from the bench out. This week the club announced that head coach Ryan McGill and the team had mutually parted ways, or will when McGill's contract ends June 30. You had to wonder what the future would be for McGill as usually any coach entering into their final year of their contract is always a harbinger for their immediate future and there was never any word out of Iceland that McGill's contract had been renewed. The release stated that the club and coach had mutually agreed to part ways. It's a curious decision; Was it McGill's philosophy? He's never made any bones about his style being, for lack of a better word(s), 'old school'. He was a task-master and some believe that isn't conducive to today's junior player. I don't buy it but next year's club will be younger, much younger.
2. Was it a cost-cutting move? McGill is a WHL/Memorial Cup winning coach and wouldn't come cheap.
3. The status of assistant coach Jay Henderson hasn't been discussed. I would imagine he'll apply to get the head coaching job.
4. Following Kootenay's less-than-stellar game seven loss against the Calgary Hitmen, Sam Reinhart was en route to the Rochester Americans of the AHL. He notched 2 assists in his first AHL game. The Amerks will miss the AHL playoffs, like their parent Buffalo Sabres club. Barring a call to Team Canada for the World Championships - which happened last season for Reinhart - his season is over..... D Rinat Valiev headed to Toronto to play for the Maple Leafs' AHL team, the Toronto Marlies.... Tim Bozon was sent to the Hamilton Bulldogs, AHL team of the Montreal Canadiens but they missed the playoffs too and Bozon played in his AHL debut Saturday in Hamilton's regular season finale. Valiev also made his debut Saturday and winds up the regular season for the Marlies on Sunday.
5. Game 7 also marked the end of the WHL careers of Bozon, Austin Vetterl and Levi Cable. The latter two will likely head to the C.I.S. to play university hockey.
6. Kootenay had an astounding 11 19-year-olds on this team. Only three can return next season as 20-year-olds. First Sam Reinhart is signed and will not return and will play in Buffalo or Rochester next season. As is Rinat Valiev (Toronto). That takes care of two. Jaedon Descheneau isn't signed by the St. Louis Blues as of yet and they have until next year (June 1, 2016) to sign him. If signed, he'll likely play in the AHL next season. If not, he'll be a lock to stay (or will he be traded?) Luke Philp, the club's playoff MVP, isn't drafted or signed but was ranked 172nd overall by NHL Central Scouting for the draft in June. He'll likely return as a 20-year-old. G Wyatt Hoflin isn't drafted or signed by anyone. He could return as a 20-year-old... D Tyler King is in the same boat and will likely return next season to mentor a young group... F Jon Martin also falls into the group. F Ryan Chynoweth, D Tanner Lishchynsky, D Lenny Hackman are all on the outside looking in. D Tanner Faith's shoulder injury is the wildcard. If he's healthy he may have a chance to stay and anchor a young blueline. - All told, that means of 14 regular 19 and 20-year-olds, only 3 will return for next season.
7. So who makes the cut? Philp and King are locks in my mind. The wildcard is Descheneau's status; if returned he could bring something back in terms of trade value. If not returned, Hoflin and Martin round out the 3rd spot. Faith, if healthy, could be traded but that's another wildcard. 20's are notoriously hard to trade because of the roster limit but both Philp and Descheneau may bring more back in return. If not, both give a young club a chance to pull through what will likely be a tough season.
My picks? Descheneau, Philp and King. If the former are traded Hoflin and Martin come into the mix. Faith is too much of a wildcard to risk a spot on.
8. Goaltenders for next season are in complete flux. Will the club give back-up Keelan Williams a shot? He didn't get a sniff this year and looks to have very little confidence. Declan Hobbs, 17, and Jakub Walter, 16, will have a shot at a job. Could both be here next season? Does Hoflin stay as a 20?
9. On the blueline, there's another question mark, depth-wise. D Tyler King, 20, Troy Murray, 18, Cale Fleury, 17, Dylan Overdyk, 18, Bryan Allbee, 18 make up the top five. 16-year-old, first round pick Griffin Mendel 16, should make the club next season. Problem is, there's more than just talk that the Okanagan product is headed to the BCHL's Penticton Vees next season and is not going to sign with the Ice. Penticton has a history of trying to scoop high-end WHL prospects and those whispers that Mendell not joining the Ice are getting louder. That will hurt a young team's development.
10. Forwards next year will be young, period. Depending on who returns as 20's, the likes of Matt Alfaro, 19, Zak Zborosky, 19, and Vince Loschiavo, 17, will be expected to lead the team in the scoring department next season (behind Philp and Descheneau, if they're back). River Beattie and Austin Wellsby will also be expected much of. Both 18, they didn't play a lot this season. One shining light coming next season is forward Drew Warkentine 16. Warkentine shined with the Tisdal (SK) Trojans of the Sask Midget League this season finishing 4th in league scoring with 66 points in 44 games. Warkentine should make this team next season and hopefully will make an immediate impact as a 17-year-old. Disappointing numbers for Ice 1st round pick (9th overall) Jared Legien with Moose Jaw of the Sask Midget league as a 16-year-old don't bode well for next year's team. Hopefully he can recover and stick with the team and make an impact. Having two successive first round picks in Legien and Mendell not with the team next season are a huge blow if it happens.
OT - All and all, the year will be the most challenging for the club - both on and off the ice - in Kootenay's 17-year history in Cranbrook. Will attendance continue to decline? It actually went up on average this season but only marginally. The Chynoweth's have publicly stated that they cannot continued to operate in Cranbrook drawing 2200 a game. What will the team draw without stars like Reinhart and Bozon in the lineup? The club has a 15-year lease that was signed in 2010. They're five years into it, does that play into things at all? The club's 17-year playoff streak is in serious jeopardy, on paper, at least. At least this season the team had 3 post-season games that generated $50,000-60,000 in revenue. 1st round picks MIA.
2015-16 could be the most challenging season in Kootenay Ice history.
http://jeffbromley.blogspot.ca/2015/...k-at-next.html
