Levi Stuart is new behind the 100 Mile House Wranglers bench. In their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) Quick Shift team preview, he touches on some key players and new additions. They also have a new addition on the bench in assistant coach Russell Sanderson, a friend and colleague of Stuart. Sanderson is a KIJHL alum who played for the Chase Heat before moving up to the British Columbia Hockey League where he played for the Merritt Centennials.
“It’s been great exploring 100 Mile House and the 108 Mile Ranch. I’ve been out fishing a bit and golfing a bunch. I didn’t realize how nice and beautiful it is out here with the wildlife. I had to chase a bear away the other night, I love that stuff,” said Sanderson, 30, to the 100 Mile Free Press. “The people have been great, everyone has been super helpful and nice.”
KIJHL: What should fans be excited about when it comes to this team?
LS: Our style of play, our structure, and our new, young guys look really good. The camaraderie is there. They’re gelling and coming together extremely well and there’s a ton of excitement and positivity not only in the community, but with the team itself. Fans will get to watch an exciting, physical and fast style hockey.
KIJHL: What areas are you looking to improve from last season?
LS: I’m looking to improve on team speed and implement a different structure. We want to assert ourselves as a force in the division and league.
KIJHL: You added goalie Michael Malinowski, Landen Janz, Caden Cygan, Brodie Gohmann and Nelson Webster in trades. What do you like about each that they will bring?
LS: All the guys bring a little something different.
Janz is a big leader for us as he’s been in the leagues for three years and has a ton of experience. He brings a good offensive side as well as a physical, hard style to play against. He is a good all-around defenceman. Janz had 13 points in 32 games with Sicamous last season.
Webster brings a ton of speed and skill. He’s got a really good set of hands and shot and works really hard to finish checks and he’s bought into our system really well. I would expect him to be a point producer. Webster had 24 points in 40 games for Osoyoos last season.
Cygan is a finisher. He’s got good hands and a really good shot in front of the net. He’s a guy who can skate really well and fits into our system. He had 17 points in 41 games with Osoyoos last season.
Gohmann is a big, big man at 6-3, 210-pounds, He’s a centreman who wins faceoffs, is really good in our end and on the penalty-kill. He has a ton of poise on the power-play and some really good hands with a heavy shot. He had 12 points in 37 games between Grand Forks and Chase last season.
All four have been great so far and are going to be a big part of our team going forward.
Malinowski’s been great since he got here and had a really good main camp. Malinowski was 11-9 for the North Okanagan Knights with a .903 save rate and a 3.79 goals against average
KIJHL: Are there any returning players that you are expecting to have big seasons? Talk about what you are hoping to see from them.
LS: Ethan Hofstrand and Tyler Smoluk are two horses that are solid in their own end and are gonna eat a lot of minutes. They will be a big part of shutting down the other teams top guys.
Nash Hilworth and Alberto Kellgren are guys I expect big things from as glue guys and leaders. They can chip in offensively and be extremely hard to play against.
Ivan Tolsma has looked really good, we expect things from him. He has taken big steps with our goalie coach. Tolsma had nine wins last season with a .904 save rate.
Ethan Davey was the leading scorer (34 points in 42 games) and we expect him to step in and be a big part of it as well.
KIJHL: Are there first-year players who are ready to make an immediate impact?
LS: Jaden Rusznack and Kole Duquette seem to have made pretty seamless transitions. I expect them to be guys that are a big big part right from the get-go.
Rusznack (2006 – Okotoks U18AAA)He is a big, two-way centre and is very good in his own end. He has a ton of skill and a great hockey IQ. He works extremely hard and brings a bit of a physical presence.
Duquette (2006 – Okotoks U18AAA) He is a defenceman who’s a really good skater and his hockey IQ is off the charts – his decision-making, poise with the puck and passing ability is all elite. He’s already showing that he’s gonna be able to handle the big boys of this league and be a really good player.
Dawson Harden (Leduc Oil Kings U18AA) He’s a big defenseman at 6-5, 170 pounds who’s got a ton of offensive upside and can skate extremely well for his size. He has played forward a bit in the past.
Aydan Wang (2007 – St. George’s Academy) He has elite level skating and will be a solid two-way forward.
KIJHL: When it comes to your leadership group, what are the important characteristics that you want each player to possess?
LS: It’s about doing things the right way and setting the example for the young guys that haven’t been here. Being part of a support system to help the rookies and really being inclusive and a part of a team and promoting my kind of brotherhood mentality. Everybody is involved. The older guys have been great and they are going to be a big part of what we’re trying to do here in molding our group.
