Expectations are growing for the Belleville Bulls in the stands and in their own dressing room as the team gets ready to embark on its 30th anniversary season in the Ontario Hockey League.
Last season the Bulls (20-40-2-6) unloaded some key veterans along the way to make time for an impressive group of emerging youngsters.
That resulted in the Bulls missing the post-season for just the third time in franchise history but that short term pain should pay off in some long-term gain as the team has stockpiled a terrific young cast of players that should challenge for a playoff berth this year and could become a championship contender again in the coming seasons.
The Belleville Bulls kick off their 30th anniversary season on Saturday Sept. 25 against the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Aaron Bell/QuinteLive.ca
Bulls General Manager/Head Coach George Burnett said that throughout training camp and the pre-season schedule that he has been working on helping the younger players gain some confidence before the season starts.
“Having the six exhibition games helped a number of our young players,” Burnett said on the eve of their season opener. “They were put into situations like playing the powerplay, killing penalties and playing in a top three line role where they may have been in and out of the lineup last year. I think it’s really just about the process of learning how to win and gaining confidence.”
The long summer layoff means that the team – including the coaching staff – are ready to get back to business. The Bulls open their 30th OHL season on Saturday at home against their arch-rivals the Kingston Frontenacs (7:05 p.m. broadcast on TV Cogeco and AM 800 CJBQ).
Belleville native Tyson Teichmann will handle the bulk of the goaltending duties for the Bulls in the 2010-11 campaign. Photo by Aaron Bell/QuinteLive.ca
Wining doesn’t come easily in the Ontario Hockey League and no one understands that better than Burnett. He struggled through a couple of seasons with the Oshawa Generals before coming to Belleville six years ago and put into place a plan that paid off with three straight trips to the OHL’s Conference Finals. They also went seven games into the OHL Championship Series and played in the semi-final game of the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Kitchener in 2008.
There are a few holdovers from that team, including captain Luke Judson and veteran centre Andy Bathgate. Neither one of them played much in the extended playoff run that season but learned a lot from the experience.
Recently acquired forward Mike Mascioli played for Kitchener that season and has an OHL championship ring as a souvenir.
“There are still a few guys that are lingering from that time,” Burnett said. “They were young – in their first year of eligibility at that time. I think it’s essential that they understand now what they thought was going to be easy that it hasn’t been easy.
“If they’re doing the right things away from the rink and competing each and every night and are concerned about the team and the process of how to win – and I believe they are so much closer to that now – they can help spread the word and make sure the message is clear throughout our entire program.”
Not everyone had the summer off from the rink. Burnett and sophomores Tyson Teichmann, Austen Brassard and Michael Curtis all helped Canada win the gold medal at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic last month.
Burnett said that experience will help him – and his trio of sophomores – prepare for the season ahead.
“For all three of them it’s a big year for individual rewards at the end of the season with the draft,” said Burnett, who will also be away this Christmas working as an assistant coach with Canada’s World Junior Team. “I think that they have come in really focused on being the type of players that we need them to be to move forward and take on leadership roles with our hockey club.”
Great work on the first webisode! Looking forward to more for the rest of the season.