Shaun Van Allen, coach of the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team, knows there are a lot of lessons to take away from last year’s difficult opening-round playoff loss to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.
“We want to be better, and we want to learn from that,” Van Allen said, entering his second year as the full-time bench boss of the Ravens. “You don’t want to lose, especially in the first round, and you don’t want to lose to your cross-town rival.”
It isn’t to say that 2017-18 was an unsuccessful year for the Ravens. Entering this season with the interim tag removed from his coaching position after a successful first season on the job, Van Allen envisions his team building upon the success of last season.
For him, it starts with the team’s added depth.
“We’re going to be a four-line team this year, and not count on one line to do the majority of the scoring,” Van Allen said, recognizing the departure of Carleton’s top scorer from last season, Brett Welychka, to the American Hockey League (AHL). “I find, that way, when it’s not one line, it’s tougher for them to stop you.
“We’re going to be a much deeper team and then all of the responsibility doesn’t fall to one guy,” Van Allen added.
The coach’s sentiment is shared by one of his newer players, defenceman C.J. Garcia. Recruited mid-way through last season from the ECHL Colorado Eagles, the pro-turned-collegiate rearguard says his team has great depth. Garcia added that his team will be given a “big impact” by the infusion of 10 first-year players into the lineup.
“They’re all skillful players,” Garcia said about his team’s new recruits. He singled out forwards Aaron Boyd, Matthew Forchuk, and Brogan O’Brien, as well as defenceman Darian Skeoch, as having impressed him in the preseason.
“I think they’re going to do very well this year,” he said.
Having manned blue lines in his career with the likes of current Florida Panthers star Aaron Ekblad as a member of the Barrie Colts, Garcia said Carleton’s defence corps is very versatile and dangerous.
“I think we’re probably one of the best D-corps in the OUA East here, and I think we can really do some damage because we can play defence and score too,” Garcia said.
Van Allen also feels confident on his team’s defensive side, especially in his team’s long-time starting goaltender, Francois Brassard. Brassard is entering his third season as Carleton’s number one netminder, having posted 24 wins over his last two seasons.
“With Brass, he plays the puck probably better than any goaltender in our league,” Van Allen said. “He’s like a third defenceman back there.”
For Garcia, he said he has the strongest confidence in his head coach.
“Shaun just has a pro mentality here,” Garcia said of Van Allen, whose 13-year NHL career ranks with the likes of Scott Walker and Jarrod Skalde, two of Garcia’s former coaches.
“We just get along and gel pretty well together. You know, he’s got a lot of insight into the game and it really helps me out,” he added.
After a long career as a player, Van Allen recognizes the boost that “no doubt” comes from playing in front of a home crowd.
“When the rink is packed, and you’ve got fans standing along the Plexiglass, that really helps our atmosphere and the players,” he said.
Garcia said he feels even more confident when talking about his expectations for the club’s home opener against the rival Gee-Gees on October 11.
“I’m just excited, you know? I’m predicting—a 3-2 win,” he said.
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