U18 and U16 Lakers searching for an identity as season draws near

By: Michael Willoughby

With the 2026-2027 season on the horizon, the U18 and U16 Huron-Perth Lakers are still looking to forge an identity and the right chemistry.

U18 head coach Chad Smalley and U16 head coach Greg Swan discussed their teams' morale and the process of establishing their respective identities.

“We're gelling pretty good. We've had a lot of time to practice and get on the ice. We have four practices left, and we've got one exhibition game with Kitchener coming up on the weekend. There were a few little things to iron out, but we're close. The team's gelling really nicely, and the kids are excited and, you know, getting to know each other,” Smalley said.

“The preseason is like the main thing because we got kids coming from everywhere. We want them to gel quickly, and it's coming that way, which is good. We're just trying to find chemistry with the guys and who can play with who and etc. So as long as we're working hard and buying into the system that we're selling, everything's going to be fine,” Swan said. “I think we're really impressed with just how they're coming together as a group and their work ethic and attention to detail in practice and just the willingness to get better. I think we're trending in the right direction for the start of the season.

“With so many new bodies that we brought in, and you know the guys getting used to the new coaching staff and just gelling together as a team, and as coaches getting to know the kids and coming together as a family more or less and having that translate into success.”

U18 netminder Ty Wilkinson attended the Stratford Warriors training camp and started the preseason opener against the Woodstock Navy Vets. Wilkinson says the experience with the Warriors was beneficial and explained to the Times what it meant to play in front of his family.

“It was absolutely great. The way their management, their team, their coaches, everything they do is awesome over there. It's all super professional. Just had a blast there. Was able to show my skills off,” Wilkinson said. “It absolutely was a blast. I had some family out, had a couple uncles and aunts. It was a great time. So blessed that Stratford gave me the opportunity.”

U16 forwards Will Molenhuis and Dexter Powell kept busy during the offseason, mainly competing with the 15U Stratford Nationals this past summer. Both players aim to transfer key aspects of their baseball skills to the rink and tailor their performance for the upcoming season.

“I'm a catcher in baseball. So I kind of view the field as a leadership role, and I can see the whole field, just like bringing my eyes to the ice and seeing the whole ice. So yeah, just a bunch of leadership roles on the ball team,” Molenhuis said.

“In comparison with baseball, I think it mainly correlates with short bursts of speed in hockey and with hand-eye coordination. Those things go hand in hand along with stick handling and shooting,” Powell said.

Both the U18 and U16 Lakers start their regular season with tournament games at the Toronto Titans Tournament in Toronto from Oct. 1 to 4. The results will be published in next week’s edition of the Times.