Before the 2014-15 season, the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team had a plan in mind – be tougher to play against.
It seemed like a simple gameplan, but the idea was to make it difficult for visiting teams to come into North Bay and walk away with two points and thanks to a strong recruiting class last off-season, that plan took shape.
Led by head coach Mike McParland, the plan once again is to add players who will not only make an impact offensively, if needed, but also players who will pay the price and force the opposition to pay the price for success.
The program, which has never missed the playoffs in their six years of OUA hockey, has signed two more players who will fill the role McParland and the coaching staff are looking for.
Adam Smith, a power forward from Nanaimo, British Columbia and Guillaume Naud, a two-way centre from Quebec City, Quebec are the latest to join the Lakers.
“We are very pleased to announce Guillaume and Adam will be joining the Lakers for the upcoming season. We have added some size in both players, an area we definitely had to upgrade in,” McParland said.
Smith comes to the Lakers after splitting time last season between the Battlefords North Stars in the SJHL and the Miramichi Timberwolves in the MJAHL where he scored 10 goals, added seven assists and piled up 149 penalty minutes in 38 games.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward said he’s looking forward to playing at the next level and feels he can contribute to the Lakers.
“I'm very excited and honoured to join the Lakers. I've heard nothing but great things about the school and program,” he said.
“One of the biggest reasons I chose Nipissing was because when I talked to the recruiter and Coach McParland, they both spoke highly of the hockey program and the team’s goal of winning which is always an environment you want to surround yourself in.”
Since making the jump to junior hockey, Smith has spent time in the BCHL, the VIJHL, the SJHL and the Western Hockey League, where he suited up for the Portland Winterhawks, Swift Current Broncos as well as the Spokane Chiefs throughout his three seasons in the ‘Dub.’
Smith, who will be studying business at Nipissing, said he brings a strong work ethic and will play whatever role the team needs him to step into.
“I'm a hardnosed, gritty power forward, I like to get under the skin of the other team, I like to throw my weight around a lot and I have a heavy shot and I'm good down low in the corners,” he said, adding getting in on the forecheck is a big part of his game.
“I want to establish myself in the league as a guy who's hard to play against every night and for the team I think winning a league championship would be the ultimate goal.”
Smith’s top offensive output came during a stint with the Nanaimo Buccaneers in the VIJHL, where he was a point a game player before being moved to the BCHL and called up to the WHL.
The second player the Lakers are excited to announce is Naud, a player that has been able to put up points on almost every stop of his junior career to date.
His top seasons came when he played with the Wellington Dukes in 2011-12, where he piled up 52 points – 24 goals and 28 assists – in 46 games.
His last season of junior hockey, where he played for the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL, was his best, as he recorded 88 points – 32 goals and 56 assists – in just 60 games.
Naud also has major junior experience, spending time with the Val-d’Or Foreurs and Victoriaville Tigres in the QMJHL. He also played a handful of games with the Belleville Bulls in 2011-12.
“I am really excited to become a Laker. It was important for me to come closer to my hometown Quebec City,” Naud said, adding playing in Lethbridge had its challenges. “I also have four former teammates on the team I am really excited to play again with since I still stayed in contact with some of them.”
Naud has been a member of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns for the past two seasons, but didn’t suit up in any games last year, allowing him to make the jump to the Lakers this year.
He had 10 points in his first season in the CIS in 2013-14.
Naud, who was playoff MVP during his time with Dauphin, is proud to be able to play a full 200-foot game, providing offence when he can, but also being responsible defensively, including being able to take important faceoffs at key parts of the games.
“I am a two-way centre that can play in most situations. I take a lot of pride in my defensive game, but one of my strengths is my wrist shot,” he said, adding he can contribute at both ends of the ice. “Most of the time I am pretty successful in the faceoff circle and while I’m not the most physical player, I am not intimidated by some rough play.”
Naud, who has a year of eligibility used up, but has two years of school under his belt feels that he will be able to transition into a key player right away, rather than needing an adjustment period.
“Obviously making the playoff is important, but maybe having home ice advantage would be a big bonus,” Naud said of some expectations he has for the Lakers next year. “I am entering my third year at school and my second year of eligibility as a hockey player in the CIS, so I am hoping to come into the lineup and be able to make a difference on and off the ice.”
McParland, who has been very hard at work this off-season, trying to add to his program, likes the look of these two players in his lineup and will continue to add the right pieces to take his team to the next level.
“We are happy to have Adam coming in to fill a role as an aggressive forward who likes to get in on the forecheck and bang, and with Guillaume we have a big center that has been able to put up points and lead his team,” McParland said.
“We are happy to have both players coming in to join the Lakers Men's hockey team.”
