NEWS

The Burlington Cougars has a leadership group by committee in the form of three alternate captains, led by Wyatt Trainer (photo credit:  Andy Corneau/OJHL Images), Spencer Herbst (photo credit:  Shawn Muir/OJHL Images) and Willy Paul (photo credit:  Shawn Muir/OJHL Images).

It is never easy jumping in as a new head coach of a team. Having to get to know the players and implement your systems. In Burlington head coach Marc West also has to deal with the fact that he has the youngest roster in the OJHL.

With only 1 ’94 and 1’95 born skater the Burlington Cougars are thin on experience. While this has given the team an opportunity to build a foundation for future years with a young roster there is leadership needed to help foster the talent that is there and allow it to build for future success.

 “The guys that show up and play hard every night that’s a leader to me” said Marc West. Leading by example and instilling a strong work ethic in this young team is a big thing.

It should come as no surprise then that the current 3 assistant captains that have been tapped to lead this young squad is forward Wyatt Trainer and defenders Spencer Herbst and Willy Paul. One quality that stands out among all 3 is perseverance and hard work in getting to this point in their careers.

Wyatt Trainer played midget hockey for the South Central Coyotes before jumping to Jr C. Ultimately he played 37 games last season in the OJHL before returning this year for his 2nd season.

Spencer Herbst played in 3 games for Georgetown in 2012-13 before playing 31 last year split between the Raiders and the Cougars.

Willy Paul is a local Burlington kid who played his minor hockey in the Burlington Eagles system. After getting into a game last year with Hamilton he is final playing in his first full OJHL season as an 18 year old.

Not every player will jump into this league as a 17 year old and start playing big minutes and not everyone will develop at the same pace. These 3 leaders for the Burlington Cougars have shown a work ethic throughout their career that has allowed them to earn their spots and pass their peers.

The question is now what can they bring to a young Cougars team that will and has had some growing pains in this season? In the words of coach West they have to remind the guys “There have been tough nights and there will be tough nights but we have to outnumber the tough nights with the good nights and to keep working hard” 

With early lopsided losses to Trenton and Oakville it would be easy for some to pack it in. These Cougars however are showing that they have some fight in them still with recent victories over Hamilton and the Toronto Patriots as well as close losses to Georgetown and Wellington. How you react to adversity is a clear sign of leadership and the fact that this team keeps fighting is as ringing of an endorsement of Trainer, Herbst and Paul and one can find.

A plan has been put in place to get the Cougars back to where they feel they will be and strong leadership and perseverance from this leadership group will be a key part of the process as Burlington looks to turn things around and win on a consistent basis.