Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – With some scoring going out the door for the Griffins men's hockey team in 2024-25, head coach Zack Dailey has spent the off-season restocking the offensive cupboards.
The Griffins have had success in back-to-back years adding top Alberta Junior Hockey League scorers Ethan Strang and Kadyn Chabot, and the template continues with Dailey's first recruit announcement.
Lloydminster Bobcats captain Caden Cabana, who led the AJHL in scoring in 2023-24, will kick off his Canada West career at MacEwan in 2024-25.
A finalist for the AJHL's Most Valuable Player award, Cabana was named the league scoring champion with 27 goals and 69 points in 53 games.
"With (Kole) Gable, Taups (Jordan Taupert) and Strang all leaving, those were our top scoring forwards, so we're trying to bring some guys who can help the returners and help fill the gap with all those goals we're missing," said Dailey. "Caden put up a bunch of points in juniors and has a bunch of leadership experience. He competes hard all over the ice and I think he's someone who will help us out right away."
Cabana spent a season-and-a-half with Lloydminster after being acquired by the Bobcats at the 2023 trade deadline in a three-team trade. He was previously with the Spruce Grove Saints for two seasons where he played with Chabot – the Griffins' rookie of the year last season.
He also played with current Griffins Ben Bygrove, Tyson Kowaluk and Jack Parker at Lloydminster and there's no doubt they all played a role in him coming to MacEwan.
"It definitely helps when you have guys who know people," said Dailey. "The players are the best recruiters. Regardless of what the coach says, you trust your buddies a little bit more."
Caden Cabana looks for an opening against the Bonnyville Pontiacs earlier this season. The Lloydminster Bobcats captain will join several former AJHL teammates on the Griffins in 2024-25 (Jackie Tomayer, JD Photography).
In addition to winning the AJHL scoring championship award, Cabana was named to the league's first all-star team, and also won the Bobcats' MVP, top forward and top scorer awards.
"This season, he was able to be a game changer on the ice and teach our young players what it takes to be an elite level player every day, while being our captain," said Lloydminster Bobcats GM Nigel Dube in a release on the team's website.
Cabana rose up through the Lakeland Panthers and Lloydminster AA and AAA elite hockey streams prior to a memorable AJHL career, which included 117 points in 140 regular season games.
He'll have an opportunity to produce right out of the gate at MacEwan.
"We're very excited to have him," said Dailey, who sees him playing left wing and/or centre on a scoring line. "There's always an adjustment period when you move up a league, especially our league that's a little bit bigger, faster, stronger than what he's used to. But I just expect the adjustment period to be a little bit shorter for him.
"We have to be realistic and can't expect guys to come in their first year and be point a game players. But he'll have an opportunity to produce, and I think the leadership we have on the team will help him as well and help speed up the adjustment period."
