Quesnel hasn’t had a Junior A hockey team to cheer for since the Millionaires played their final season in the BC Hockey League in 2010-11. Fourteen years later, they have the River Rush to be proud of. Longtime Kootenay International Junior Hockey League coach Dale Hladun is their first ever head coach-general manager and gives insight into the team for their Quick Shift preview.
With players having no knowledge of Quesnel, Hladun made home visits to educate them on what their new playing home is like. After attending a camp in Prince George, the players saw how beautiful the city is.
“Now that they are here, there are big smiles on their faces. They have done more team building in getting together in the last four days, than they did all last year,” he says. “Many hadn’t billeted before. They sense the excitement already walking through town. Ian George wore a River Rush hat and said he got mobbed in Canadian Tire by a bunch of kids, ‘Are you with the Rush?’ They are feeling it. Up here, they are going to be rock stars.
“I think it’s going to be a great season up here.”
KIJHL: What should Quesnel River Rush fans be excited about when it comes to this team?
DH: I think the core veterans that we have coming. The North Okanagan kids last year finished pretty strong, losing Game 7 to Princeton in the second round.
The old adage is, you want to be a good coach, get a good goalie. We’ve got Josh Hager (named the Top goalie in the Bill Ohlhausen Division last season). He’s definitely in the conversation to be the top goalie in the KIJHL. He’s a big kid (6-2, 190 pounds), he’s smart, a leader and he wants to win. We’ve got an exciting defenceman in George, who rushes the puck, is very competitive, and brings offence, but he’s very conscientious in his own end. Some key forwards are Cash Anderson, Gage Parrell, Richard Burden – they are going to bring some scoring. The compete level of Dane Dietz, Adam Valach, Josh Greenough are really gonna help with our forecheck and penalty killing. The experience of Nolan Schmit (24 GP) on the back end as a veteran defenceman.
KIJHL: What were areas you identified that you wanted to build around the returning players to strengthen the roster?
DH: With the age group, you want to get a bit more experience. We’re still waiting for some players, but we identified some good, young prospects.
Linden Hart (2008 – Northstars Hockey Academy U17) The Burns Lake product is a big, strong defenceman and a competitive kid with a pretty good eye for the game.
Liam Richardson (2007- Cariboo Cougars U18AAA) The Quesnel product is a huge defenceman and plays like a man. I’m really happy to have him.
Jackson Heinzelman (2006 – Quesnel Thunder U18) He was one of the top kids for the Quesnel Tier 3.
We are going to see what we have once we get through exhibition season.
KIJHL: Are there first-year players who will be ready to make a smo?
DH: Toren Fron (2006 – Edmonton U18 HC JPHL) He is fearless, attacks, and has got good skating skills. He’s a very high compete level player. I think he will become a fan favourite.
Hart makes good puck decisions.
Richardson will compete well. He is a big, strong kid who will be hard to battle in the corners.
KIJHL: When it comes to your leadership group, what are the important characteristics that you want each player to possess?
DH: At 19 and 20, they are men. I’m going to treat them as men, and they take charge. They should be self motivated. They are going to make sure they’re good in the community and they are already acting like that.
The conversations amongst the veterans is about getting ready for the season. You can sense the leadership among the crew. I think they had a disappointing finish and it’s in the back of their mind that they know they can do far better. That is why they are here and they want to start off strong.
