By: John Humphrey , Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
The Lakeshore Canadiens are poised and primed for extended play-off run following a stellar Provincial Junior Hockey League regular season.
That the Canadiens, who finished with an impressive 35-7 mark and ended up in second place in the PJHL’s West Stobbs Division, would perform at such a high level should surprise absolutely no one.
“We’ve finished in second place three times and in first place five times in the last eight seasons,” claimed longtime Canadiens general manager Mark Seguin. “We had a good regular season and we’re ready for another long play-off run.”
The Canadiens split their six-game regular season series with the Essex 73s who had a 37- 4 regular season mark to finish atop the Stobbs standings.
The Canadiens’ new coaching staff played a large role in the team’s great play so far in the 2024-2025 as Brent Walker made his debut as head coach. He was joined behind the Canadiens bench by J.J. Percy, Colin Moore and Milan Dobric. Walker took over as the lead bench boss after Anthony Iaquinta left to join the junior b LaSalle Vipers before the start of this season. Dobric also left to join the Vipers at the start of 2024-2025 but had to resign due to work commitments and he rejoined the Canadiens staff.
“The transition in our coaching staff was seamless. Both Brent and J.J. had been around our team for years and had helped out with practices so they knew our players very well,” said Seguin. “They are both highly-respected by our players and they worked well together and that showed from the outset of the season.”
And while the great play of most Canadiens players was expected by Seguin, at least one player surpassed the lofty expectations of him.
“Trevor Larue had a fantastic season for us and finished with 85 points in just 39 games. And our leadership group consisting of Trevor, Eric Bisson, Marco Sladoje, Josh Cyrenne and Bryce Scarlett were just awesome for us too,” said Seguin. “They were all tremendous leaders for us both on and off the ice.”
Perhaps the biggest and most pleasant surprise for the Canadiens thus far in 2024-2025 has been the play of rookie right-winger Nicolas Rosati.
“I knew that Nicolas was a great player, but he has come in and exceeded all expectations by far,” said Seguin. “He finished with 72 points on 24 goals and 47 assists in 42 games.
“He is probably the best 16-year-old player that we have ever had in my 21 years with the Canadiens,” Seguin continued. “He has played on a great line with Trevor and Eric.
“For a kid of that age to be able to keep up with two overage players, that just goes to show you the skill set that he has. He has also never looked out of place in any role or game situation that we have placed him in.
“Nicolas is a super-kid who has a great work ethic,” Seguin continued to gush. “And he has a very high hockey IQ.”
The five-foot-nine, 160 lb. Rosati, who is from LaSalle, is a Windsor Spitfires’ draft pick.
Away from the friendly confines of the Atlas Tube Centre, the Lakeshore Canadiens family enjoyed much success and team-building through such exploits as the annual Mothers’ trip (Dresden) and Fathers’ trip (Mooretown) and the outdoor Winter Classic game at Lanspeary Park in Windsor in January in addition the yearly team trip to Montreal, also in January.
The Canadiens also hosted a reunion of the 1984-85 Belle River Canadiens before the last home game of the regular season on February 14. That team captured the Schmalz Cup in 1985 and were presented with the trophy again as the current Canadiens team is in possession of the hardware having won the sixth cup in franchise history last May. Among the former Canadiens champions to attend the ceremony on February 14 was Belle River native Tie Domi, who went on to a 16-season National Hockey League career played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets.
The 2024-2025 Lakeshore Canadiens were set to quick off their quest for a seventh Schmalz Cup in franchise history with a first round play-off series that kicked off against the Dresden Kings on February 20 at the Atlas Tube Centre.
Be the first to comment