Taylor Sincennes enters his second season as the Columbia Valley Rockies’ head coach-general manager following a 25-win season and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. In their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) Quick Shift team preview, Sincennes talks about a shift in playing style.

KIJHL: What should fans be excited about when it comes to this team?

TS: We’re going to play a hard-nosed, gritty style, which I think suits our community a little bit – the Australian fans, the people coming from other parts of the world. They enjoy the contact. I think our defence core is going to be really solid and we’ve added some really good young pieces to complement the veteran players. We’re going to play a fast, physical style of hockey.

KIJHL: What areas are you looking to improve from last season?

TS: In a perfect world, the improvement would come on the offensive side to produce a bit more. I don’t think we scored a ton of goals last year. (Note: the Rockies were 10th among 20 teams with 149 goals.) We were the benefactors of some pretty good goaltending and decent defensive play. I think we will continue to play really well defensively.

KIJHL: Are there any returning players that you are expecting to have big seasons? Talk about what you are hoping to see from them.

TS: Carter Velker is going to come in and I expect him to put up good offensive numbers. Velker led the Rockies with 37 points in 44 games.

Bryan Kim got his confidence going by the time we made it into the playoffs. He scored some huge goals for us in the postseason (four goals in 11 games). I expect him to produce. He had eight points in 12 regular season games.

Kobe Mason is going to be a key piece to success. He was an alternate captain and will continue to grow his leadership ability and offensive game. Mason led the Rockies with 16 goals.

Teo Fath was an alternate captain and is going to take another step in the right direction, leadership wise. He is a defensively sound player that pushed for offence. He will have a good offensive year with the tools he has. Fath averaged .71 points-per-game with 25 in 35 games.

Wyatt Wurtz is going to be a huge impact player. He moves the puck really well and is sound defensively. He played on our power-play.

Paddy Donohue is a local who year-to-year has improved so drastically it’s incredible. He makes a good first pass. He will have a big year as a defensive blueliner.

KIJHL: Are there first-year players who can make a seamless transition to make an immediate impact?

TS: I don’t know that it is ever totally seamless for young guys.

Peter Godly (2006 – Calgary Rockies U18 JPHL / 43 points in 32 games). We just signed him and he will fit into our top six right away. He is an offensive minded player with strong hockey sense, shoots the puck really well and his passing skills are elite. He’s got a lot of tools.

Chance Cole (2006 – Prairie Hockey Academy U18). He is going to be an offensive-minded defenceman. While a bit undersized, he skates really well to keep himself out of trouble and makes a good first pass.

Carter Tuplin (2006 – Swift Current Broncos U18AA). He is going to be a physical presence at 6-0, 175 pounds. He plays the game really well, fast and will be a kid that is fun to watch.

Jack Thorne (2006 – Saint John Vitos U18AAA). He is going to be a very solid defensive defenceman and will be noticed.

KIJHL: When it comes to your leadership group, what are the important characteristics that you want each player to possess?

TS: What I look for the most, are they kids that are able to come into my office and chat with me, give me a pulse on what the room needs and wants. Are they confident enough to know what the group needs. On the ice, I want hard-working, quality characters.

KIJHL

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