Make no mistake about it; Langley Chiefs defenceman Jessie Tresierra is more than willing to drop the gloves. The only thing is, that’s no longer his main role with the team.
“I think he’s moved on from that,” said Langley Chiefs coach and general manager Harvey Smyl. “We certainly don't want him doing that. We feel he is more important on the ice for us being a player. He’s an important piece.”
Tresierra, a third-year defenceman with the Junior A club, is also the team's captain. The 20-year-old spent his first two seasons in the BCHL as the Chiefs' resident tough guy. But at the start of this season, Smyl gave Tresierra the honour of wearing the `C’.
“There are 20 other guys who could get it on their sweater, but for the coaches to believe in me to be captain, it’s nice, it’s indescribable,” he said.
Tresierra cuts an imposing presence on the ice as he stands six-two and weighs 230 pounds. During his first two years with Langley, he got into 41 scraps in 101 games, chipping in with eight goals and 34 assists to go along with 305 penalty minutes. But an injury to former captain and fellow blue-liner Nolan Julseth-White midway through last season opened up an opportunity for Tresierra and the Quesnel product has jumped all over it.
He leads the Chiefs defence this season with 10 goals and 30 assists through 53 games and is a fixture on the first power-play unit thanks to a booming slap shot – 11 of his 15 career BCHL goals, including six this season, have come with the man advantage.
“It’s great, it is always nice to pop one in,” Tresierra said about being counted on for more than just fighting.
So far this season, Tresierra has dropped the gloves 12 times and has fought just once in the past 18 games. The key, he says, is to pick his spots and know when to fight and when to decline the invitation from a potential dance partner. In years past when he declined an invitation to scrap, Tresierra would have to listen to the opposing player chirping at him. But now that they see the 'C' on the jersey, the yapping he hears has been scaled back.
“We have a few more guys who can do it,” Tresierra said. “If we are down and need a spark, I might drop the gloves, but (the team) also needs me to put the puck in the net and help someone else put the puck in the net. I know I have to help my team in more ways than one.”
Wearing the 'C' as team captain is not something Tresierra expected when he began his junior hockey career but he has definitely earned the distinction.
“He is a quality kid, first of all, and he is very, very likable,” Smyl said. “And he has grown into a leader. He has really matured over the years.”
When Tresierra arrived in Langley, Smyl said he possessed great size and a booming shot but was still very raw.
“He had a weight problem early and he didn't have the work habits,” the coach admitted. “But he has made the commitment and his fitness has improved big time. He has really grown and matured over the years and understands the game very well.”
Tresierra has always played defence, following his older brother Craig, who patrolled the blue-line for the Quesnel Millionaires from 1996 to 1998.
“He inspired me to play defence,” Tresierra admitted about his sibling, nine years his elder.
Tresierra has always been a large force on the back end.
“When I was younger, I was always the 'gentle giant,'” he said. “My dad would push me to be more physical and stuff. When I started fighting in junior, he started telling me 'rush the puck, put the puck in the net.'”
And while Tresierra says dad doesn't mind when his son drops the gloves on occasion, his mom is another story.
“She hates it, all moms do,” he said with a laugh.
Gary Ahuja is a sports reporter for the Langley Times and a monthly contributor to Smart Hockey Magazine.
