Thursday, May 15, 2014 10:43:43 EDT AM
KIRKLAND LAKE - As he looks back on the season that was, Kirkland Lake Gold Miners’ General Manager and Head Coach Marc Lafleur says the 2013-2014 season was an amazing year.
“It was an incredible season. Not only did we do great things on the ice,I believe the players did some incredible things off the ice, within the community.”
He also stated having the players being selected as the CJKL Citizens of the Year was just as important and just as big of an accomplishment as winning the league title.
As for specific moments during the year, of course winning the championship and beating the regular season champions, Soo Thunderbirds was the big one.
“Beating the Soo was a highlight. I thought our guys didn’t get the credit or attention they deserved thoughout the season. I thought the Soo played incredible but our guys were overshadowed.”
He also looks back fondly on two specific moments during the year. First there was the 3-3 double-overtime tie against the Soo, a game which he says is the most exciting he has ever been a part of.
He added that playing in front of 1000 people at The Joe was fantastic.
Although the season has barely ended for the Miners, Lafleur is already looking ahead to next year. And the Miners will be going into next season without eight key players who will not be in the line up due to the fact they have aged-out.
Among those who will not be in the lineup for the 2014-2015 season are Team Captain Dan Morin, power-forward Everett Thompson and playoff MVP Austin Rust. It should be noted that all three have committed to college programs in the U.S. And as such they will be able to continue playing the game at a very high level.
As for those who are eligible, Lafleur says it is hard to speculate who will be back.
As for the coach, he will be spending the summer scouting, watching game tape and as he puts it, trying to become a better coach himself. “I’m always looking at adjust things. You can never be good enough.”
all in all he is definitely looking forward to next season and to see what happens.
