Friday 15 November 2013

The Times They Are a-Changin'

And quickly.

Nick Deschenes' Trail Smoke Eaters made two trades this week.

Forward Brendan Lamont was shipped off to the Penticton Vees for future considerations and defenseman Curtis Toneff is now a member of the Merritt Centennials.

In exchange for Toneff, the top scoring d-man for Trail this season, the Smokies received fellow blueliner Dylan Bowen who brings in 2 goals and 5 points on the campaign.

“Dylan’s a guy we’re confident can handle a significant role with our club,” Deschenes said. “The move also helps us get younger as we go forward."


The new head coach is in his third week with the club who are 1-2-1 with him behind the bench.

"We're full steam ahead with what we are trying to establish here and [we're] trying to get back to competing consistently and
developing players."

Deschenes has hit the ground running.

I also do play-by-play with the BC MML's Kootenay Ice who hosted the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds in Nelson last Saturday and Sunday, the latter of which Deschenes sat in the audience for.

It was one of three games he attended that day. I think it is fair to say Deschenes is revamping this team from all fronts, via trade and recruitment.

He is starting from the beginning. Almost literally.

"I'm kind of throwing everything at them like you would in a camp setting," explained Deschenes. "Not all of it is going to get absorbed and we are going to have to revisit a lot of things but that's persistency - keep drilling home the message until the lights go on."

And why not? Why not start over.

It is pretty much exactly what Deschenes did upon arrival in Grand Forks where he helmed the rebuild of the KIJHL's Border Bruins.

Deschenes came in at the tail end of the 2011/2012 season - one the Border Bruins only earned a single win.

The turnover the next year was immediate as there was only one returning player on the club's roster by the end of the 2012/2013 season.

Just like the people of Grand Forks can now see light at the end of the tunnel, Trail is on the road to redemption.
The doesn't mean the hardship is quite over yet, something Deschenes is fully aware of.

 "The team has gone through some adversity, so [we are] really trying to get everyone in a good head space so that we can move forward. I think that was the biggest hurdle and I think we are slowing starting to overcome that and believe in each other as a group."

The Smokies welcome the Nanaimo Clippers Friday for the second and final meeting this season between the clubs.

Trail left the Harbour City with their tail between their legs on October 27 when the were blanked 5-0 by the Clippers.

They'll now look to return the favor as well as earn only their second win at Cominco Arena this season.

Deschenes says obviously they want to be good on their own stage - but they want to just to be good all the time.
"I always tell the players it doesn't really matter where you are but you have to be your best [all the time] because that's your job. Our preparation doesn't really change [with] where we are."

The Smokies will also welcome division rivals the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday.

You can join me for the broadcast Friday and Saturday at 7:20 (10 minutes before puck drop).



Watch live at www.fasthockey.com or listen live for free at www.mixlr.com/smokeeaters






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