As the Morrisburg Junior Lions staff move to meetings and plans to organize a competitive team for the upcoming hockey season, they are, as do all management staffs around the league, preaching focus.
Primarily, focus to improve on last season’s performance.
Following several losing seasons the Junior Lions recently had initiated a rebuild of substance. A turn-around in faces behind the bench, extended searches for player talent, and an effort to become more familiar within the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association.
Now, an upbeat hockey buzz concerning the Juniors has materialized around Morrisburg Arena, October thru February. Building on the dramatic turn-around that drew supportive crowds in numbers not seen in many years, the 2023-24 effort to change that, the action to become competitive, was taking shape.
Several coaches of note piloted those teams thru the past few seasons. Most memorable being Kenny Turnbull and Cody Casselman, each bringing a fan attracting outlook and a full-team performance in their approach to the game from behind the bench. General Manager Kevin Cassleman, who heads the owners group, remained steadfast in his efforts to include local talent while expanding his area of the operation in signing a skilled talent pool. And that too was working both on the ice and in the stands.
Too many years had passed since the Junior Lions had scored a playoff position. The 2024 edition of South Dundas’ favourite hockey team, top to bottom, was scoring off-ice rewards that peaked dramatically through their 2023-24 regular season and play-off campaign. The fans were returning in droves.
Last season's team was head and shoulders over any of the Morrisburg teams iced in far too long. This team had speed and toughness, the needed scoring talent, and an awesome power-play.
These Lions scored a National Capital Junior Hockey League team record 21-victories over the regular schedule. Opening with a 5-0-0 run, they later added a nine game undefeated stretch, November 4th thru December 9th. As teams vied for a playoff spot the Lions split their final 20-outings. Unfortunately a lingering discipline problem and subsequent errors in judgement to rectify that problem created an early exit from the playoff picture.
The round of play-off action against the North Dundas Rockets was witnessed by packed arenas at both locales. The Lions ousted the North Dundas entry 4-1 in a best-4-of-7 meet.
Vying for a spot in the league final playoff action Morrisburg opened against Vankleek Hill Cougars in front of shoulder-to-shoulder screaming fans cheering the Lions in the den on Ottawa Street. They crushed the Cougars 6-2. Then, just as quickly, the cheering ended.
Morrisburg had seen their final victory as the Cougars battled back, taking 4-straight games to advance to the championship round against the Gatineau-Hull Volant.
Ben Lapier, the most popular of the home grown talent pool, was the league’s Most Valuable Player. Following a near season long battle, Lapier closed the regular season within a few points of the league’s scoring leader, Gatineau-Hull’s Julien Arruda, who's team went on to win the overall regular season schedule and the League Championship.
Over the same season Morrisburg’s Justice Brownlee, the team’s most consistent performer, picked up the League’s Best Defensive Forward trophy, an honour owned by Morrisburg’s Connor Manderson the previous season.
What was missing was the long elusive League Championship Trophy, or even a shot at capturing it.
Following some months of consideration the team’s GM, Casselman, stepped up to announce coaching staff changes, naming Jamie Smith as Head Coach. Casselman also announced a continued and aggressive outlook to focusing on a group that intended to ice a competitive team, local talent included .
Fan interest is again building well before the 2024-25 season schedule has been released.
The Lions have held initial skates at Cornwall’s Benson Centre, and have more intensive workouts pending. The team’s returning group of try-outs does include popular netminder Carson Turner and Aiden Hutt, forwards Justin Cyr, Josh Broad, James Martens, and Benny Lapier among others. Kayne McCadden, the Fetterly boys and Alec Larocque are seeking spots on the defensive unit and a number of names and talents continue to be discussed around rinks further afield.
General Manager Casselman, in handing the Head Coaching duties to Jamie Smith, crowned a life-long South Dundas and Morrisburg Lion’s past player. Smith spent three seasons with the Junior Lions as an affiliate player before turning to coaching. He has accumulated some 23-years behind benches, guiding players through their initial season of hockey and on to graduating to and from the Junior team. Over the past few years he's been working with the Morrisburg Junior team while retaining coaching duties in the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association.
To no one’s surprise Smith easily recognized in local hockey circles. And fastball circles. Like his parents, Ted and Connie, who were the stars of considerable fan appeal in fastball and hockey circles in their own day, the younger Smith is keen on his community. Jamie’s elder brother Jason played in the South Dundas Minor group, served with the Junior Lions and enjoyed a considerable fastball career. Younger sibling Jeremy too played hockey through his years with the South Dundas Minor Hockey Association.
“I managed to win a League Championship at every level except as a Novice Coach,” Smith laughed, while reminiscing the numbers of players and fellow coaches he has served with over the years.
“We not only scored championships, we were there in every game in my opinion.”
Smith's League Championships culminated in the 2016 season when he coached the South Dundas Major Midget Rep Lions to the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League Championship over a determined Brockville Braves entry. These Lions included an ensemble of local talent that kept an arena crowd on the edge of their seats throughout the season. Fast, hard hitting, and willing combatants who played hell bent to secure the top prize. Throughout the season the brightest light in the rink was the smile right under Smith's nose!
His team closed the regular season with a 26-wins, 4-losses and 3-ties! And Jamie Smith headed a coaching staff that included Jim Bennis and Pierre Baril as Ass’t. Coaches, Steve Bradford as Trainer and Johanna Kronstal as the team’s Manager.
“I remember the night we could have won that title at home,” Coach Smith said during a recent interview, “We had the Morrisburg Arena packed and we came up flat. The Braves went home with a 5-2 victory.”
“We returned to Brockville for the next game and their arena was full.” Smiths voice raises an octave or two as he recalls the excitement of the evening. He adds, “The problem for the home team Braves was that at least half of the fans were from Morrisburg and they didn’t stop cheering us on through the game.”
“The place went wild when Cal Bilmer scored the winning goal.”
As Coach Smith speaks a desire to coach a like-competitor becomes prominent.
“Did you think your Junior Lions could have won it all last season?”, he is asked.
“I thought there was a chance had things been done a bit differently,” he answers, then shouldering his share of blame he adds, “Yes I believe we could have won it all. We burnt the players out.”
Smith says the Lions could have and should have made it to the final round against Gatineau-Hull through Vankleek Hill.
“The Cougars were a strong team that took advantage of our mistakes and in turn took the series.” he admits.
“But that’s history now,” says Smith, “We’re looking at a very interesting season again this year with a good number of returnees, some good prospects for as many as six open sweaters and a colourful pipeline of names that have shown an interest in playing for the Lions.”
The management group of this season's Lions team are banking on dressing returnees including sniper Ben Lapier, with both Owen and Hudson Fetterly and Kayne McCadden backing their defence. McCadden has been vocal concerning the opportunity to get a Junior Championship in his final year in the age group.
Talented netminder Carson Turner is returning as the team’s full time puck-stopper with Aiden Hutt currently favoured to play back-up. Another noticeable talent, Colton Sage out of Long Sault, is an eye-catching netminder.
“It’s great to talk about players and intentions,” Smith adds a little editing to the interview, “In the end our coaching staff is going to work with the players management provides us. We are thrilled that GM Kevin remains adamant about including names and faces we all know and that allows us a continued opportunity to coach locally. As everyone in the game understands, we have to work with our players to be in a winning head space and to bring that winning head space attitude to the rink for every game.”
The Lions too have expanded their coaching staff for the 2024-25 season. Under Head Coach Smith are Assistant Coaches Connor Manderson; Goaltending Coach Ryan Cooper; and Defensive Coach Justin Shea. Chris Harrington will continue as the team Trainer.
“We have to make the kids buy into what we’re doing and where we’re going. We’re intending to work with a team of players. A team on which those dressed are provided a fair share of ice time,” Smith says, adding, “Like any well coached team we’ll be building on team inclusiveness. We’re not interested in leaving players sit on the bench, especially when we’re holding a good lead. And we are going to be working intently on the undisciplined penalty habits that cost games.”
Asked what he thought the coming regular season would bring local fans, Smith said, “I’ve wanted to coach this team for a long time and I believe this is our year. I don’t have my own kids here, and I still have my love for the game, that celebration to win. I’m looking forward to this season, to beat that 21-game-win record of this past season.”
“My wife recently asked me how long I intended to keep coaching,” the Lions Head Coach admitted.
“I answered, I’m guessing the Lions will finish in the top three overall this season.” he said, grinning knowingly at the half-truth.
Then, more seriously, added, "I do believe we can take the league!"