by John Humphrey
The LaSalle Vipers are looking to build upon one of their best seasons in franchise history and carry that momentum on into the 2023-2024 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) regular season.
Despite being one of the youngest teams in the GOHL last season, the Vipers finished with 33 regular season wins, their most in six seasons.
Still, the team is not interested in resting on their collective laurels and are focused on improving and advancing from what was accomplished in the 2023-2024 GOJHL season.
“We’re excited as we head into training camp, especially because we progressed so much last season,” claimed Vipers general manager John Nelson, the night before his club opened training camp for the upcoming GOJHL campaign on August 19 at the Vollmer Recreation Centre. “We’ve been learning what it takes to get to a league championship and heading into the season our guys are focused and they’re ready to roll.
“Everyone’s care factor is very high,” Nelson continued. “And we’re ready to get things rolling.”
With potentially 11 players returning from season’s squad, the Vipers opened training camp with 40 players in attendance, including players who played Junior C to Midget AAA to U18 to U16 to U18AAA last season and are looking to elevate their own careers.
The majority of players who attended the Vipers’ main training camp in August had already attended the team’s prospect camp that was held at the Vollmer last May.
The Vipers leadership group – consisting of the team captain and assistants – for the 2023-2024 season include: Nicholas Graniero has been a Viper since 2021, and will be an Assistant Captain. 3rd year Dman Owen Findlay, LaSalle native will lead the Vipers as the Captain. Patrick McManus will play his overage year, and be an alternate Captain. Newly acquired defenseman Ryan Clarke (03), will be the 3rd alternate captain.
There will be some familiar and not-so-familiar faces pacing behind the Vipers bench this season as Chad Shepley takes over as head coach after having served as an assistant for five seasons following a distinguished playing career with the team.
“Chad knows exactly what our organization is all about and he is a school teacher and I think the skills he uses in that care transfer very-well to his work as a coach,” Nelson offered.”He is well-organized and has a passion for the players.
“Chad Shepley is probably one of the best people that I know and I’m not talking about just hockey.” Nelson continued. “He gives everyone respect and everyone respects him too.”
Working closely with Shepley in 2023-2024 will be assistant coaches Nathan Savage, who returns after a one-season hiatus. Savage, like Shepley, is also a former Vipers player and will be entering his fourth season as an assistant coach in LaSalle. Miles Doan, a native of Windsor and a LaSalle resident who played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Owen Sound Attack and Niagara IceDogs and two seasons with the University of Windsor Lancers, joins the Vipers’ coaching contingent for his first season while both Derion Ducedre and Joe Donato return as goalie coach and video coach respectively.
“I think we have a great coaching staff who are going to help our players develop and achieve as much as possible,” claimed Nelson. “Our players will have more opportunities right from the start of training camp to show off their leadership skills to our new staff.
After playing their only exhibition game against the Chatham Maroons at the Thames Campus Arena of St. Clair College on August 27, the Vipers will have a two-week break before opening their 2023-2024 GOJHL season against the London Nationals at home on Wednesday, September 13.
The Vipers will be without one of their legendary competitors this season as the Leamington Flyers have moved from the GOJHL to the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) this season.
“It’s unfortunate that we are losing one of our biggest and longest rivals, but at the same time it has opened up a few doors of opportunity for our league,” Nelson claimed. “This season we will be playing eight games from teams from other conferences in our league.”
Over the course of the 2023-2024 GOJHL regular season, the Vipers will play road games against the Elmira Sugar Kings, K-W (Waterloo) Siskins, Ayr Centennials and Caledonia Bombers. Meanwhile, the Saint Catherines Falcons, Cambridge Winter Hawks, Listowel Cyclones and Stratford Warriors will all be hosted by the Vipers at the Vollmer Recreation Complex this season.
“So, fans across our league are going to get to see a few other teams from around our league that they normally wouldn’t see,” Nelson said. “I think that is super-exciting for our fans and our league.”
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