I called head coach Nick Deschenes Thursday morning and asked if I could take two minutes of his time to talk about the upcoming busy weekend.
He admitted he was distracted with everything behind the scenes. Our chat was following Wednesday's announcement that the club had sent 18 year old goaltender Riley Corbin to the AJHL and hours before it was public that 20 year old blueliner Cody Bardock was on his way out of the Silver City and off to Chilliwack.
Friday it came out that forward Bryce Knapp was involved in a transaction with the Cornwall Colts of the CCHL that saw future considerations come back the other way.
Castlegar native Riley Ostoforoff was also signed by the club this week after playing eight games with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs earlier this season.
6' Ostoforoff won't fill the entire 6'5" 215lbs (30lb more than Riley) void that is left by Bardock, but like how many of these moves are influenced, the former Castlegar Rebel brings more youth to the team.
In exchange for Bardock, Chilliwack sent over 17 year old Brandon Volpe.
The former Chiefs player brings only 26 games of BCHL experience to this club and that is spread over the past two seasons.
Take a look at the other transactions made this month by the Smokies and you don't have to have a degree in physics to see the trend.
20 year old Curtis Toneff went to Merritt for 18 year old Dylan Bowen.
The right to Luke Sandler sold to the Surrey Eagles for 18 year old forward Michael Roberts and future considerations.
And forward Brendan Lamont landed in Penticton for future considerations as well.
Tune into Friday's broadcast againt the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, we should have comment in the pregame show from Deschenes regarding all the lineup changes.
But let's shift our focus from the roster to the schedule, as the orange black have a packed one this weekend.
It starts seven days after they came out flat in a 4-1 loss to the Vernon Vipers in Cominco Arena.
That was a bit surprising considering the weekend before that the orange and black were perfect at home.
"It just didn't measure up. At the end of the day we, as a coaching staff, are looking for that compete factor because that's what's going to bring us success," explained Deschenes after stating that all 20 guys just didn't show up for the contest against Vernon. "So, that's what we are going to key in on during these weekend games."
This weekend will end a stretch of five games where Trail played either Salmon Arm or Vernon.
"Me personally, I feel comfortable having played these teams already and fairly recently and having done some video work on them. For the most part, the effort and the intensity have to be there...[that's the] minimum...and then we will take the results with that."
Friday and Saturday will be the fifth and sixth times the Smokies and 'Backs face off this season.
"They obviously have a pretty dangerous first line, so we have to contain them. Their back end is pretty good at moving the puck and they've got good goaltending. For us, it is a simple game. Being smart without the puck and then capitalizing on our opportunities."
That top line is lead by Landon Smith, the BCHL's top scorer heading into the weekend with 20 goals and 22 assists.
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Whether these changes Deschenes has made are expected to create short term or long term (or both) results, I can't really say.
If I had to, it looks like long term. However, either way, by bring in some young blood it may gets rid of some pressure and allows for some potentially exciting hockey.
Broadcast begins 7:20PM for the first half of the home and home with S.A Friday. Watch live on www.fasthockey.com. There's will be no broadcasts for the games in S.A Saturday and Vernon Sunday.
I apologize for the difficulties last week and for not having a mixlr broadcast. I cannot confirm if there will be one this week.
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