By Chase Ruttig
Playing on the Yorkton Terriers for the past three seasons, gritty power forward Kailum Gervais knows exactly how big of shoes he has to fill in replacing Devon McMullen as the team's newest captain for the 2014/15 season. During McMullen's career the blueliner played in three SJHL Championships, winning his last two as captain including the RBC Cup last season to give Yorkton its first ever Junior A National Championship. Head coach Trent Cassan referred to McMullen as one of the "best captains and players in Terriers history" at the end of last season, so whoever was going to be the captain this season was going to be replacing a player who drew a ton of respect as a player and a leader.
That is why the team may have had no better choice in team captain than Gervais this season, a player who has played on top forward lines for the past two seasons that also doesn't shy away from an enforcer role, the Keeseekoose First Nation product has always been willing to protect his teammates and because of that was already a fan favourite as well as in the locker room. Becoming the team's captain in what will be his fourth season with the Terriers, Gervais said he was honoured as well as surprised to be named captain because of the experienced players on the team around him.
"We have some great leaders on this team along with some very experienced players so I was slightly surprised to be named captain before the season," says Gervais. "It wasn't something I was expecting, but I am honoured to be able to carry on the captain's tradition with the Terriers and will try my best to fill the role."
Gervais also mentioned that the leaders on the team from past years have taught him a lot, something that he will be trying to do with a Terriers team that has experience mixed in with some promising prospects trying to make a name for themselves on a team that has a recent winning tradition.
"I have played with some great leaders on this team in Devon, the Norrish's (Chase, Brady), Kale Thomson, Tayler Thompson all great players and great guys to play with so I am going to take what I learned from how they led along with some of my own experiences to help out younger players if they need any advice on anything because this team is all about helping one another get better everyday to achieve our goals as a group."
The Terriers forward is long in experience thanks to joining the team early in his second year of Midget jumping from the then Yorkton Harvest AAA team to play Junior A for 35 games and all five games in Yorkton's five game exit to the Melville Millionaires that year. Since his rookie season Gervais has been a power forward on head coach Trent Cassan's forward lines, protecting the likes of Jeremy Johnson, Brett Boehm, and Tayler Thompson while providing plenty of scoring on his own when required. In the postseason alone Gervais has 12 goals from the past two seasons, showing just how valuable he can be as a scorer in addition to the enforcer role that first put him on the map as a fan favourite.
Gervais wants to see more scoring in his game this season, mentioning that as a captain and a top line player that production will be a focus in trying to improve as an all around performer.
"Playing on the top line and being the captain there is more of a role in trying to score goals along with setting up teammates to make things happen offensively so that will be something that I hope to improve on this year. I have good linemates and things have been clicking so far in the first two games so if that continues the offence should stay which is something that we need to do to stay competitive."
As for fighting, Gervais said he isn't going to be shy to drop the mitts even if he is trying to stay out of the penalty box more this season.
"Standing up for my teammates and setting a tone has always been a part of my game because it is how I play," says Gervais of his enforcer role that will still be in his set of skills even if he will be looking to tone down on the penalties. "I am not going to shy away from every challenge or back down if the time is necessary, but trying to keep my penalties a bit lower from the past two seasons is something that is a focus."
Gervais averaged 60+ penalty minutes over his three seasons with the Terriers, which isn't near a gaudy 100 minute mark as the forward has always found a balance between being an enforcer as well as a talented player that logs plenty of ice time. That was clear over the opening weekend when Gervais scored his first goal of the season in the home opener, a game where Gervais wanted to defend home ice as champions to show that the Terriers are once again a tough team to knock off.
"Putting up the banners makes you motivated to defend the titles you have won and you know that every team is going to be trying to beat you even more now that you have won the National Championship because every night is a test to show that you can beat the champions. We feel that we can play to a high level again so playing motivated teams and defending a championship should help keep us sharp all season."
Starting the season 2-0 after a weekend sweep over the Red Wings, Gervais felt the wins were important to give confidence to the new players on the team and to show them that this group can be successful.
"I think these two wins were important to get things started early on in the season," Gervais added. "It is a long process over the entire season, but to start off with some good wins to build on is important to show new players that this is what happens when we work hard and that is we keep working hard good things will happen as we improve to get even better as a team this season."
As for season expectations, Gervais is optimistic about the Terriers chances.
"I feel that this team can succeed because there is a good mix of veterans along with young players that have been showing talent early on," concludes Gervais. "We have a good goaltender coming back in Dawson (MacAuley) and a good coaching staff that knows how to prepare teams to win so if we all buy in to work hard to get to where we want to go anything is possible this season."
