In his own way, Brandon Prust is helping get the gang back together.
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In his own way, Brandon Prust is helping get the gang back together.
Just this past weekend, the new London Nationals head coach was hunkered down at Western Fair Sports Centre planning some special teams strategies. He turned to a familiar face for advice.
“We had old Rob Schremp there helping me with the power play,” Prust said of his high-scoring teammate with the 2005 Memorial Cup champion Knights. “He’s kind of been back in town (after his post-playing days spent in Florida and Latvia). I told him if you’re here, I could use some of that power-play expertise.
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“That was really good.”
The Nats open the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season Wednesday in LaSalle. The first home game is Wednesday, Sept. 18 against Listowel.
Prust isn’t just leaning on Schremp, one of London’s greatest junior hockey scorers. Rob Drummond, another member of the ‘05 team of the century, is back as an assistant along with Dave Moore.
The new coach is regularly communicating with his old teammates Dylan Hunter and Rick Steadman, the current Knights assistants, and the rest of the London OHL brass on the tricks of putting a winning program on the ice.
“I’ve been picking their brains on a lot of things,” Prust said. “I’ve been around that Knights dressing room for many years. I’m taking a lot of pages out of their book. We have a great relationship and I was just on the ice with them a couple of days ago.”
He also will be watching 2005 Knights captain Danny Syvret’s London Junior Knights U16 ‘AAA’ team this year for affiliated help and to see who’s coming up the ranks.
“Danny is kind of with that younger generation,” Prust said. “You hope they come to me next, then off to the Knights. It’s a gradual stepping stone in London.”
Ryan “Pucks” Pyette on the OHL
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It’s going to be a process with a Nats team trending younger this fall. But the man in charge has passion to spare.
“We did our first video session and it’s a different look,” he said. “As a player, you used to just show up and learn. Now, you’re teaching it. I woke up at 5 a.m. and my brain was just going. I just started watching game tape for about four hours. My girl wakes up and I’ve got the laptop in the bed watching hockey.
“She’s like, ‘What’s going on?’”
The club’s top four scorers are gone. Londoner Talan Palmer, who tallied 25 times last season, already potted his first goal for the Collingwood Blues Junior ‘A’ team. Arva’s Quinn McNamara also moved to the Wellington Dukes.
“There are a lot of new faces,” Prust said. “That said, we picked up a lot of character guys and good hockey players. It’s about getting everybody on the same page and working together. The one question mark is where we’re sitting with the goaltending. We have a couple of guys in place and we’re waiting to see on Hayden Sabourin (who went to Oshawa’s training camp).
“That’s an important part of the team.”
Prust already put his brand on the roster with full-player access to his BP8 Fitness gym on Blue Heron Drive. Junior B teams don’t typically have pre-game skates, but the club is encouraged to show up early to ride the bike, stretch and get their bodies ready for the game ahead.
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The GOJHL’s switch to a two-conference format this season means an early winning start is more important than ever. There are 12 teams in the West, including traditional heavyweights such as Listowel and Stratford, and only eight playoff spots available.
“I like the change because it makes that regular season a little more impactful,” Prust said. “The last few years pretty much everybody made the playoffs. Now, you’re going to have to battle for those spots. The rivalries will be running pretty deep as soon as that season starts.”
HERE WE GO-JHL . . .
(12 teams in the new Junior B West Conference)
St. Marys Lincolns. Last year: 33-11-5-1, 72 points. 2nd in West. Lost in 5 to Listowel in Sutherland Cup final. Outlook: They will be grand again.
Listowel Cyclones. Last year: 39-9-1-2, 79 points. 1st in Midwest. Sutherland Cup champs. Outlook: Target on their backs.
Stratford Warriors. Last year: 31-15-4, 66 points. 2nd in Midwest. Lost in 5 to Listowel in conference final. Outlook: All in at ancient Allman Arena.
London Nationals. Last year: 36-11-1-2, 75 points. First in West. Lost in 7 to St. Marys in conference final. Outlook: In Prust, they trust.
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Strathroy Rockets. Last year: 33-12-3-2, 71 points. 3rd in West. Lost in 4 to St. Marys in 2nd round. Outlook: Take the next step.
LaSalle Vipers. Last year: 30-19-1, 61 points. 4th in West. Lost in 5 to London in 2nd round. Outlook: New coach Anthony Iaquinta had a history of Junior C success with Lakeshore.
Chatham Maroons. Last year: 27-20-2-1, 57 points. 5th in West. Lost in 6 to LaSalle in first round. Two years removed from last Sutherland Cup final.
K-W Siskins. Last year: 29-13-4-4, 66 points. 4th in Midwest. Lost in 6 to Ayr in first round. Outlook: Want a bounce-back after quick exit.
Elmira Sugar Kings. Last year: 32-16-0-2, 66 points. 3rd in Midwest. Lost in 5 to Stratford in 2nd round. Outlook: Usually in the mix.
St. Thomas Stars. Last year: 18-27-3-2, 41 points. 6th in West. Lost in 5 to Strathroy in first round. Outlook: End long string of early exits.
Komoka Kings. Last year: 8-42-0-0, 16 points. 8th in West. Lost in 5 to London in 1st round. Outlook: Get out of basement.
Sarnia Legionnaires. Last year: 17-27-4-2, 40 points. 7th in West. Lost in 4 to St. Marys in first round. Outlook: Haven’t made 2nd round since 2015.
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