Lacquette, Chiefs look for bounceback season

It’s no secret the Yellowhead Chiefs were far from satisfied with their season last year.

The Chiefs finished last place in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League after winning just eight games in 48 contests with a -127 goal differential. But, with a new voice at the helm this season, Yellowhead is hoping to find some more success this time around.

“You can’t change what happened last season, and so I got the kids looking forward,” said Taran Lacquette, who was named head coach of the U18 squad this summer. “I believe that if we play the way I want them to play, we’re going to win a lot of games this year.”

Lacquette, now in his sixth year behind the bench, started coaching in 2017 as an assistant with the Parkland Rangers — the same team he suited up for in 2014. After a few years away from the game, he joined Central Plains in 2021, spending time with both the U18 and U15 Capitals before finding a home with the Chiefs organization.

Lacquette spent the past few seasons leading Yellowhead’s U15 club and has now stepped up to take over the U18 team, replacing former head coach Hannah Street. He believes the key to amping up results this year begins with changing the players’ mindset.

“It starts with just making them think more. I believe coaches should get the kids to think more, that way they’re able to adapt to anything,” Lacquette said. “If the game breaks down or anything goes wrong, I want them to be able to think it through and come out on top still.

“I believe I can build a winning attitude from that perspective. Thinking is wanting them to adapt.”

The Chiefs are set to have 10 returning players this upcoming season, with two notables being Hamiota’s Destin Knight and Rivers’ Winston Lepp, who are expected to lead the team on and off the ice. Lacquette said the type of game Knight and Lepp play — a smart, hard-nosed, and physical game – is how he hopes to shape his team’s identity.

“They’re both big team guys,” he said. “They’ll block a shot, take a hit, and do whatever it takes to win. I know that when I throw them out there, they’re going to be the hardest-working players because they hate to lose. They’re the ones that are leading the play, wanting to win every battle and finish checks, and that’s what I expect out of an AAA player. They bring the standard.”

Third-year player Chief Nolan Kozak is another name to look out for. The five-foot-11, 160-pound product of Neepawa racked up 19 goals and 37 points in 44 games last year and should be at the top of the list in terms of forward production this season. Lacquette said he wasn’t too familiar with Kozak heading into camp but has made his presence known with his unique set of skills.

“There’s a lot of offensive capabilities there,” he said. “He’s been creating opportunities throughout camp, and hopefully he keeps that up into the start of the season.”

Yellowhead will kick off its season at home against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Sept. 27, but until then, it still has some roster decisions to take care of.

Rivers’ Cole Lelond, a six-foot-four, 285-pound netminder who posted a 3-10 record with an .860 save percentage last year, will begin the season as the club’s starter, but the backup position is still up for grabs between two other goaltenders. Lacquette expects the battle to go until the very end of camp, and the same goes for the young crop of forwards and defencemen fighting for a spot as well.

“Guys need to step up, and that’s what I’m expecting here,” he said. “I’ve told them they are fantastic players, but now they’ve got to go and try and show it.”

As excited as Lacquette is to coach, he’ll also get a little more pleasure from doing it beside his dad, Terrence, who will join the staff this year as a defensive coach.

“He’s coached me my whole life, so it’s pretty cool,” said Lacquette. “He pushes my coaching ability to another level, and he’s really helpful on the bench, so I know that he’s taking care of the back end.”

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com