Written by Gary Mosklayk
Interim head coach Gatlin Church assumes the helm of the Kenora Islanders. Church was in Thunder Bay recently for an exhibition tilt against the North Stars.
Armed with a 26-man roster the Islanders are looking to make major strides this year.
“We’re a young team. We’re going to grow. We’re going to make some mistakes but mistakes are only mistakes if you don’t learn from them,” said Church, who was thrust into the role of head coach with the unexpected parting of ways with recently hired former Dryden HC/GM Kurt Walsten. “We’re going to bring a young group of guys forward who will hopefully grow and learn. Camp was competitive. Where we are today is a lot further than we were last season.”
That’s good news. The Islanders were 2-46-1 in their first season last year.
“Lots of revolving doors. There’s been some pleasant surprises. One of them being the play of Glen Murdock on the back end. He came into camp not really known. He should stick in our top six,” said Church.
Only four returning Islanders are on the roster sheet: goalie Kaden King, and forwards Hunter McLean, Hudson Favreau and Ezekiel Kirkness.
King, Kirkness, goalie Ethan Fechter, and forward Larry Flett are the only 20-year-olds on the team. The rest of the squad are 2005 and 2006 players. McLean is a 2007.
King, part of the expansion Islanders, is one of three goalies. Kenora-born and Kenora Thistles grad James Sinclair and Fechter, from the PBCN Selects, are the other two. Fechter was 11-3-0 with a 2.49 goals against and .924 save percentage last year.
Church wasn’t part of the Islanders’ abysmal first season. He’ll be a big part of this one.
“I look at it as though I’m building a team from scratch. I’m very excited we have Micheal Ferland involved (former player with nine NHL seasons). There’s another ex-NHLer on the down low who does a lot of work with us behind the scenes. Eric Sinclair is here as a qualified defensive coach.
“We have kids who want to be here. And we’re changing the work ethic of the Kenora Islanders,” Church continued.
Kenora had six goaltenders in camp vying for crease duty. “It’s a bit of a logjam, there’s no about it,” said Church, before paring the roster down.
Players to watch for based on stats gleaned from Elite Prospects include ’06 defenceman Konnor Sapp, who had 29 points in 31 games with 62 penalty minutes withU18AAA Northwest Stars of the SAAHL. ’05 forward Keestin Danielson from the Prince Albert Lumberjaks of the PJHL had 21 goals and 27 assists in 39 games with 14 penalty minutes. Domonick Collins, an ’06 forward with the Interlake Lightning had 33 points in 36 games last year. Sutter Baily had 29 points with the U18AA Estevan Bruins in 36 contests. Rowan Fenner had 24 points in 23 games with OCN Storm.
Tallen Caron, an ’06 forward, is another former Kenora Thistle on the roster.
It’s a learning curve for Church in his unforeseen new role, and for the Islanders as a whole.
“It comes down to education. It’s education from the ownership right down to the bottom. It’s getting organized,” said Church. “This organization feels the need to do that. Get our community educated, get our staff educated, get our players educated, and start playing junior hockey rather than being a house league travel team.
“It’s going to be a challenge. We’re going to get better as the season moves on . . .Our goal is to grow these kids together and build a foundation. That’s what we’re going to do.”
The Islanders open the year with a weekend pair of 7:15 p.m. CDT starts Friday and Saturday September 13th and 14th in Fort Frances against the Lakers.