Jean-Luc Chetner has gained great experience playing with and against the top junior A lacrosse players in Canada.
“It’s always exciting to get to play in the Minto Cup,” said Chetner, a rookie with the Coquitlam Adanacs, via email after returning to the University of Richmond in Virginia where he plays on a lacrosse scholarship for the Spiders. “I’ve been lucky to play in the past three Minto Cups, but this one felt a little different.”
The Minto Cup changed from a tournament format to a best-of-seven series, which Chetner likes.
Going into the Minto Cup against Six Nations, Chetner was confident they had a strong team. However, the Adanacs lost in six games on Aug. 23 after having a 2-0 series lead evaporate. Chetner said losing was tough, especially with most games coming down to one or two plays deciding the outcome.
“It’s tough when you can look back at specific points or plays throughout the series and say ‘what if ?,’” he said.
Following the first two games, Chetner said it seemed like every bounce and call was going Six Nations way.
“Six Nations was scoring on every opportunity they had and when we had chances, we weren’t as clutch,” he said. “Offensively they could score from every spot on the floor. We knew coming in they were good shooters and at times it seemed to overwhelm our defence.”
Chetner, a product of the Penticton Heat and South Okanagan Flames programs, finished with four goals and 10 points in six games and felt he had a good series. He had some rust to shake off after missing the B.C.-Alberta series due to a shoulder injury.
“It was fast-paced lacrosse and I felt I was able to make a difference for the good of my team,” he said.
Adanacs general manager Tosh Nishimura said the 19-year-old is a special kind of player.
“He’s a kid that definitely ramped up his game. He always scores big goals for us,” said Nishimura. “He came in for the Minto Cup and he was one of our top players.”
As a rookie, Nishimura said Chetner put up good numbers in the regular season, scoring 19 goals in 15 games, while finishing with 51 points, good for third overall in team scoring.
“Jean-Luc’s got very good vision of the floor. He’s a guy that plays off-ball really well,” added Nishimura. “The kid’s a gamer.”
With two years of eligibility remaining with the Adanacs, Chetner is expecting to be a big piece of the club.
Now Chetner is back with the Spiders for his second season and is confident he can help his team with the experience he gained. With a young core for the Spiders, Chetner believes his big-game experience will help.
“At Richmond I’ll have to be a leader and fall back on previous lessons I have learned throughout my career,” he said.
In his first season with the Spiders, Chetner started 13 of 17 games and scored 18 goals with 31 points, good for fourth on the team.