The Burnaby Lakers are in transition.
With the resignation of head coach Brad Parker, the junior A lacrosse organization is ready to make a fresh start, even if the new head coach Jason Dallavalle is a familiar face, having served as an associate coach for the past three seasons.
Well back of being competitive at 3-18, management acknowledges the Lakers' climb is going to be a steep one, and depend greatly on an upsurge of local talent from the minor ranks in the next few years.
But it all starts with a new bench boss. Lakers president Brad Hara said Dallavalle will shake things up and bring a different approach as head coach.
“He’s just really gung-ho about the team going forward,” said Hara. “He’s a fitness fanatic and he’s going to make sure that we’re ready to start the season as best we can.”
Parker, who served three years behind the Burnaby bench, will stay involved as a director.
Hara said the new coach is embracing the plan to play a more attacking, gritty game.
“We want to be more aggressive on the ball and play up-tempo more,” said Hara. "My understanding is Jason will be bringing in different offensive and defensive structures."
The graduation of a handful of veteran leaders – some of whom were dealt at last season’s trade deadline – will create opportunities for the returnees and newcomers alike, said the Laker president.
In the trading department, the team hopes to reap the benefits of those late season deals, which saw leaders like Aidan Milburn and Danny Spagnuolo moved to Delta and Coquitlam, respectively.
Lakers general manager Jamie Scott has continued the swap-meet over the past few weeks, signing a free agent and acquiring some junior A experience.
"We're rebuilding this club from the backdoor out, that includes goaltending, defence and forwards," said Scott.
He inked prized intermediate free agent goalie Elijah Uema-Martin, who backstopped the Coquitlam intermediate A's to first place, to a junior A card. The netminder nicknamed 'Bear' will join the ranks of returnees Matt Hans, Matt Hills, Graham Huskick and Nolan Tytgat to make a healthy competition in a critical position. Scott also acquired forwards Dylan Kaminski and Brady Barrett, both coming off point-per-game seasons in Langley, for a couple of draft picks.
The team has also shifted its home game night to Mondays, after being anchored on Sunday.
Scott sees Dallavalle as a perfect choice to instill a winning mindset with the organization, which has struggled over the past decade.
"Jason brings youth and an enthusiasm -- just a different perspective for the game."
Dallavalle worked alongside Parker for a handful of years, including with the New West junior Salmonbellies prior to coming to Burnaby.
This past weekend the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League held its annual midget draft, where teams picked from non-affiliated Lower Mainland and Island associations, with an eye to developing depth for the junior A program.
Burnaby owned the second pick overall, as well as the third choice thanks to an earlier trade.
With their first pick, the Lakers tagged Port Moody’s Ryan Johannson, a left-sided offensive stick.
“He’s a very talented player with a lot of offensive upside,” said Hara of Johannson, who received his association’s Spirit Award following last season. He was also a member of the 2016 Team B.C. midget team that brought home bronze from the nationals.
At third overall, they grabbed Abbotsford native Tyler Pongracz, a goalie who played up with Delta’s intermediate B’s last year while also handling crease duties for New West midgets.
The 16 year old helped pilot Delta to the provincial B final, where they settled for silver. Pongracz was named to the provincial all-star team at the tournament.
“We don’t have a goalie for intermediate coming up, so we have to use the draft to get them,” remarked Hara. “Both Pongracz and (Aaron) Kaminski give us some depth. Last year (in intermediate) we went the season with just one goalie.”
The team will first gather Jan. 26 to start dryfloor training. The regular season kicks off in April.
