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6 in 6: Halifax Southwest Hurricanes
2015-03-23
READ MORE for a preview of the 2014 ECJLL Champion Halifax Southwest Hurricanes
6 Teams in 6 Weeks ECJLL Preview
First up: Halifax Southwest Hurricanes
March 23, 2015
Colin Beiswanger
The 6 in 6 series will feature one team every week leading into the 2015 regular season at the beginning of May. Naturally, the 2014 Champion Halifax Southwest Hurricanes are the first to be previewed.
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You couldn’t ask for a better end to the 2014 season for the HSW Hurricanes. After settling for second place to cross-town rival HNW Marley Lions in the regular season, the Canes had the last laugh and swept the Lions in the finals winning the ECJLL Championship.
Though, this year marks a new look team, as Head Coach Jon Goguen has three captains and a polarizing playmaker leaving the team as over-agers. With a core from Central Halifax that never lacks talent, this team is a championship favourite heading into the beginning of any season.
Offseason
Offseason transactions:
The Canes were very active this offseason with a flurry of draft picks changing hands and a substantial amount of MUFLL draft picks acquired.
The addition of Cole Davis to the roster helps solidify an offense losing major talent, and the trade was a move to replace the scoring that was lost to graduating players.
Graduating Players
The Hurricanes are losing top scorer and team captain Drew MacDonald, as well as assistant captains in Louis Martin and Andrew MacNeil. These three players accounted for 54 of the teams 150 goals last year. Also graduating are Thomas Oulton, Mark Falkenham and Andrew Leonard. Mark and Andrew weren’t with the club last year, but left their fingerprints all over the organization, in particular Mark whose toughness and raw talent defined the team in his time with the club.
To say the least these are great losses, especially on offense. Drew, Louis, and Andrew led the team with the letter on their chest and their play in the box. It will be interesting to see which players fill the void heading into 2015.
Rookies and Young Impact Players
As mentioned, the Hurricanes are never short on talent coming up through the Southwest organization. The team is specifically welcoming Alex Pace and Brandon Elliott with open arms to score goals and make plays on offense.
Coach and GM Jon Goguen wasn't overly active in the ECJLL Entry Draft process, with their first pick coming in the third round. In the third round the team took three players: Allister Batchilder, Dylan Macpherson, and Sam Boudreau. Their final pick was at the end of the fourth round, taking Alex Muise from the St. Margaret’s Bay Storm. Coach Goguen told me he was specifically excited about Batchilder, who he expected to be taken in the first three picks of the draft.
Two players Coach Goguen is looking to see have an increased role on the team this season are Brian Huyghue and Luke Smeltzer. Huyghue and Smeltzer have been going to school in the US and playing field lacrosse for their respective schools. Both players have played at high levels their entire career, and will look to do so at the Junior level. Huyghue finished in the top 15 in scoring last year with 33 points (25 goals, 8 assists).
Coaching Staff
Goguen is bringing his entire staff back for another year with the club. Connor Dubreuil, Jamie Dunbar, and Colin Algee were with the team last year and bring an unprecedented amount of experience with them. Goguen, Dubreuil, and Dunbar are also part of the perennial MUFLL champion Dalhousie Tigers. SMU Huskies alum Jordan Coyle will also be on the bench with the team this year, having a great amount of experience with most recently the bantam provincial team under Head Coach Mike Smeltzer. Team managers are Mark MacDonald and #1 lacrosse dad Roy Mcbride.
Season Outlook
It’s hard not to consider the Hurricanes one of the favourites heading into this season. They always show up in the playoffs and can beat you in many different ways whether its with bruising, suffocating defense or a frustratingly balanced offense. Look this year for the team to rely on their offense, and focus on the development of their young players heading into the playoffs. ||
First up: Halifax Southwest Hurricanes
March 23, 2015
Colin Beiswanger
The 6 in 6 series will feature one team every week leading into the 2015 regular season at the beginning of May. Naturally, the 2014 Champion Halifax Southwest Hurricanes are the first to be previewed.
-
You couldn’t ask for a better end to the 2014 season for the HSW Hurricanes. After settling for second place to cross-town rival HNW Marley Lions in the regular season, the Canes had the last laugh and swept the Lions in the finals winning the ECJLL Championship.
Though, this year marks a new look team, as Head Coach Jon Goguen has three captains and a polarizing playmaker leaving the team as over-agers. With a core from Central Halifax that never lacks talent, this team is a championship favourite heading into the beginning of any season.
Offseason
Offseason transactions:
- Traded 1st Round 2015 MUFLL pick for Brandon Rose, Leighton Yeo, Luke Whitehead, Greg Delano, and Brad Archibald.
- Received 3rd Round MMLL pick for Charlie Nau.
- Traded 2015 1st Round MMLL pick for Dartmouth 2015 1st round MUFLL pick.
- Received Cole Davis, a 2015 1st Round MUFLL and 2015 3rd round MMLL pick in exchange for Riley Ambrose and 2016, 2017, 2018 MMLL 1st Round picks.
- Traded 2015 and 2016 2nd Round and 2017 3rd Round MMLL picks for 2015 and 2016 1st round MUFLL picks.
The Canes were very active this offseason with a flurry of draft picks changing hands and a substantial amount of MUFLL draft picks acquired.
The addition of Cole Davis to the roster helps solidify an offense losing major talent, and the trade was a move to replace the scoring that was lost to graduating players.
Graduating Players
The Hurricanes are losing top scorer and team captain Drew MacDonald, as well as assistant captains in Louis Martin and Andrew MacNeil. These three players accounted for 54 of the teams 150 goals last year. Also graduating are Thomas Oulton, Mark Falkenham and Andrew Leonard. Mark and Andrew weren’t with the club last year, but left their fingerprints all over the organization, in particular Mark whose toughness and raw talent defined the team in his time with the club.
To say the least these are great losses, especially on offense. Drew, Louis, and Andrew led the team with the letter on their chest and their play in the box. It will be interesting to see which players fill the void heading into 2015.
Rookies and Young Impact Players
As mentioned, the Hurricanes are never short on talent coming up through the Southwest organization. The team is specifically welcoming Alex Pace and Brandon Elliott with open arms to score goals and make plays on offense.
Coach and GM Jon Goguen wasn't overly active in the ECJLL Entry Draft process, with their first pick coming in the third round. In the third round the team took three players: Allister Batchilder, Dylan Macpherson, and Sam Boudreau. Their final pick was at the end of the fourth round, taking Alex Muise from the St. Margaret’s Bay Storm. Coach Goguen told me he was specifically excited about Batchilder, who he expected to be taken in the first three picks of the draft.
Two players Coach Goguen is looking to see have an increased role on the team this season are Brian Huyghue and Luke Smeltzer. Huyghue and Smeltzer have been going to school in the US and playing field lacrosse for their respective schools. Both players have played at high levels their entire career, and will look to do so at the Junior level. Huyghue finished in the top 15 in scoring last year with 33 points (25 goals, 8 assists).
Coaching Staff
Goguen is bringing his entire staff back for another year with the club. Connor Dubreuil, Jamie Dunbar, and Colin Algee were with the team last year and bring an unprecedented amount of experience with them. Goguen, Dubreuil, and Dunbar are also part of the perennial MUFLL champion Dalhousie Tigers. SMU Huskies alum Jordan Coyle will also be on the bench with the team this year, having a great amount of experience with most recently the bantam provincial team under Head Coach Mike Smeltzer. Team managers are Mark MacDonald and #1 lacrosse dad Roy Mcbride.
Season Outlook
It’s hard not to consider the Hurricanes one of the favourites heading into this season. They always show up in the playoffs and can beat you in many different ways whether its with bruising, suffocating defense or a frustratingly balanced offense. Look this year for the team to rely on their offense, and focus on the development of their young players heading into the playoffs. ||