Navan, Ont. —
Fresh off a busy August that saw a rebrand and the hiring of a new head coach, the Navan Grads enter the 2017-18 campaign looking to better their ninth-place finish last season.
The Grads lost much of their core nucleus, but have added enough pieces to, they believe, stay in the playoff-race mix.
Their jerseys are beautiful. Their organization is well-run by owner Steve Barban. But the key question remains: Will the Grads get over the hump and back into the playoffs?
NAVAN GRADS
2016-17: 24-34-4 (9th, missed playoffs)
Key Losses: F Grant Hebert, F Xavier Couture (Laurentian, CIS), D Nick Ngwafusi
Key Additions: F Coleton Cianci (Dawson College, QCHL), F Jacob Smith (Alaska, USHS), G Seth Carter (Casselman, CCHL2)
Season Goal: “Obviously make playoffs. You never know how the season’s going to go, but looking forward you always want to make the playoffs. You never know, you can finish 8th and make a run for it, so you just need to make playoffs.”
Style of Hockey: “We’re going to play a very fast, in-your-face game. We’ve got a bunch of our players that very good skaters. We’re going to be very quick in transition and attacking quite a bit.”
Training Camp: “Very good so far. Guys have been giving it all the whole time. Great enthusiasm around camp, it’s just been a very fast-tempo practices and games. I’m very impressed and looking forward to getting started for real.”
