MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Rebuilding is the lifeblood of any successful team. That goes especially at the major-junior level as the shelf life for a player in the Canadian Hockey League – whether it’s the WHL, QMJHL, or the OHL – is short. Three to four years, to be more specific.

In regard to the latter league, the Mississauga Steelheads are no exception.

Of the 25 active players on the Steelheads roster, only two are 20 years of age. Yet, for a team whose current age average is just over 18, it would be easy to understand that they’d be near the bottom of their league’s standings.

That, however, has not been the case for the Steelheads, who have been receiving plenty of support from their younger stars thus far. Among those is 17-year-old Zakary Lavoie. Hailing from Orleans, Ontario, Lavoie is enjoying a good rookie season in Mississauga with five goals and seven assists in 17 games so far.

Having been prevented from kicking off his major-junior career last year due to COVID-19 hasn’t deterred Lavoie. Instead, he is showing that he belongs with the blue and white and is playing like anything but a rookie.

I recently spoke with Steelheads head coach James Richmond, who offered his excitement for his freshman’s play thus far.

“Zak has fit in very nicely with the Steelheads,” a matter-of-fact Richmond said. “The OHL is not an easy league to play in and even tougher to score in, but Zak looks like he’s feeling more confident in his abilities and is starting to see the results on the scoresheet.”

As the old adage goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. That is more than okay with Richmond, however, as he is enjoying watching Lavoie’s development.

“We are very pleased with his development so far and we know he’s just going to get better and better as the season goes along,” added the Steelheads coach.

Through the first window of Lavoie’s exposition at the major-junior level, Richmond addressed what he feels is Lavoie’s strongest attribute to date.

“Zak’s strongest attribute is his work ethic,” stressed the head coach. “He brings [it] every day to the rink, both on the ice and in the gym and video sessions.”

Of course, as with most 17-year-olds, there is always room to improve. Lavoie is cognizant of this and is working hard to address those weaknesses, assuming it’s even fair to call them that. Nevertheless, the Mississauga bench boss is very pleased with Lavoie and his effort to keep getting better.

“At present time, Zak is working with the coaches on adding to his game away from the puck,” Richmond noted. “In minor hockey, Zak was a proficient goal-scorer and he expects to do the same here, but in the OHL you have to do more to get the puck back to score. So, he is watching lots of video on his shifts to see where he can be better.”

Overall, Lavoie has been a very welcomed addition to the Steelheads family.

“He’s been very easy to work with and teach, very open to getting better,” Richmond concluded.

For rebuilding teams, it may be understandable that they find themselves closer to the bottom of the standings. This, however, has not been the case for the 2021-22 Mississauga Steelheads. Entering this weekend’s action, the blue and white sit tied for fourth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, one point out of third and four points out of first.

There still may be some work needed in the club’s rebuild, but the Steelheads are nonetheless looking good – and Lavoie is a major reason for that.

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