Lakers Name Coates Captain

Belle River’s Colton Coates has been named captain of the 2016-17 Wallaceburg Lakers

The Wallaceburg Lakers have named towering defenceman Colton Coates captain for the 2016-17  season.

The 20-year-old Belle River native was signed in June and was immediately heralded as a leader for the new look Provincial Junior Hockey League squad.

“He’s the kind of player you want out there,” Lakers coach Joe Byrne Jr told CKSN.ca after the signing. “Not only is he a force himself, but he makes everyone around him a few inches taller and a little more dangerous. He’s the kind of player every team in this league is looking to add to their rosters and we couldn’t be more delighted to have him on ours.”

When asked about the captaincy announcement, Byrne said handing Colton the “C” was an obvious choice.

“His presence around this group of young men is a fortune and we are looking forward to having him lead our troops.”

Coates stands 6’8″ and plays a physical but responsible, two-way game, according to Lakers brass. Colton played Junior “A” hockey in the US last season, contributing 14 points in 33 games while racking up 106 penalty minutes.

In a release on social media, Wallaceburg general manager Ritch Kanally said the Lakers will lean on the leadership of Coates in the upcoming season.

“Coates comes to the Lakers with a reputation of being that teammate who can steady younger players on and off the ice,” said Kanally.

The Lakers also added assistant coach Ryan Hope over the weekend. Hope, from Chatham, is the son of Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope and coached and played in the Chatham minor hockey system previously.