PJHL Roundup Jan. 6

By Darryl G. Smart

Hawks take care of business

Starting the new year against the bottom two teams in the Provincial Junior Hockey League Bloomfield Division, the Hagersville Hawks Jr C Hockey knew they had to take care of business.
And that’s exactly what they did to keep pace with the pack at the top of the standings.
Friday on the road, the Hawks scored four times in the second period, and then got a pair from Matt Weston in the final frame to hand the Dunnville Jr. Mudcats a 7-1 defeat.
Tycie Cowanscored the lone goal of the opening period, before Peter Cappucci, Adam Caruseello, Ralph Taggart, and Keegan Cumming added to the cause in the second period.
Weston then scored on the powerplay early in the third period, before adding an empty-netter.
Evan Gibson scored the lone Mudcats goals.
Jamie Ferguson made 29 saves for the win, while Austin Davison also had 29 stops in the loss.
The loss gives the Mudcats a 10-21-1-2 record.
They are on the road Thursday against the Dundas Blues, before they host the Port Dover Sailors Friday. Both games are at 7:30pm.
Saturday, the Hawks returned home and beat the Sailors 4-3.
After Tyler Heisey gave the Sailors an early lead less than a minute into the game, Connor Spence and Brendan Judson replied for the Hawks.
In the second period, the Hawks continued to roll on the strength of goals from Taggart and Cappucci.
The Sailors attempted a comeback thanks to goals from Nicolas d”Agostino and Chris Giroday, but ended up falling one goal short.
Avery Hartwick made 27 stops for the Hawks, while Andrew Hawkins made 29 saves for the Sailors.
The two victories improves the Hawks record to 21-7-2-2, and are now in third place in the PJHL’s Bloomfield Division.
Thursday kicks off a busy couple of days on the road against the Niagara RiverHawks Jr. Hockey Club, before they return home Saturday when they face the Dundas Blues. Both of those games are at 7:30pm. The Hawks complete its week Sunday, when they hit the road Sunday to take on the Sailors at 2pm.

Second period surge lifts Rangers to win over Sailors

Three goals in the third period lifted the Glanbrook Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Port Dover Sailors Sunday during Provincial Junior Hockey League Bloomfield Division action.
After the two teams didn’t score in the opening 20 minutes, the PJHL’s leading scorer, Noah Bollert went to work. He scored the first goal of the second period three minutes in, and added another with seven seconds remaining in the frame as he was killing off a penalty. In the third period, Bollert struck again for the hat trick, while Noah Matteson added a goal in the second period for the Rangers.
Nicolas d’Agostino netted the Sailors lone goal with the man advantage midway through the second period.
Matt Lukic got the win between the pipes for the Rangers, making 31 saves. Down at the other end, Andrew Hawkins also made 31 stops.
The Sailors are now 9-22-2-1, and sit at the bottom of the PJHL Bloomfield Division, two points behind the Dunnville Mudcats and four behind the Niagara RiverHawks.
Friday, the Sailors are on the road for a 7:30pm date with the Mudcats. Sunday they host the Hagersville Hawks at 2pm.

Merchants split

With two crucial games to kick off the 2020 portion of its Provincial Junior hockey League PJHL Doherty Division schedule, the Norwich Jr C Merchants earned a hard-fought split.
Friday on the road, the Merchants erased a three-goal first period deficit to beat the New Hamburg Firebirds 4-3.
Kolton Mooney, Ryan George and Adam Barr gave the Firebirds a first-period lead, before Mason Cooper and his merchants teammates went to work.
Cooper scored two goals 10 seconds apart 12 minutes into the second period to start the comeback. In the third period, the Merchants poured on the pressure, firing 28 shots on net, as Simon Storoschuk and Brady VanYmeren scored to give their team the lead for good.
The next night at home, the Merchants again outshot its opponent. Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t enough, as the Woodstock Navy Vets pulled through with a 5-3 win.
The two teams exchanged first-period goals. Jake Luke and Alex Sutherland scored for the Merchants, while Quinton Stronach, and Kyle Walker responded for the Navy Vets.
Benjamin Cripps gave the Merchants its first lead with the lone goal of the second period, before, Drew Woods tied things up early in the third period. Then Reade MacInnis sealed the deal with a pair of goals, including an empty-netter.
Graeme Noye made 37 stops for the Navy Vets, while Zach Johnson took the loss with a 23-save effort.
The 17-12-2 Merchants are now in fifth place in the PJHL Doherty Division.
Friday the host the Firebirds, before hitting the road against the Wellesley Applejacks Saturday. Both games are at 8pm.

Applejacks get by Mounties

The Wellesley Applejacks are one of those teams the Paris Mounties Jr Hockey have had a tough time with so far this season.
For the fourth time this season, and second in two weeks, the Applejacks got the best of the Mounties with a 4-3 overtime win Saturday at the Brant Sports Complex.
After the two teams exchanged goals in the first, second, and third periods, Shaun Pickering scored the game-winner 11 seconds into overtime thanks to a great behind the back pass from Justin McCombs.
Carson Wickie, James Ranson, and Gianfranco Commisso scored for the Applejacks in regulation, while Brad Oldroyd scored twice for the Mounties. Matt Mueller scored the other goal.
Justin Hergott was again at times spectacular, making 39 saves in the loss. Duncan Rollerman made 26 stops.
To watch the highlights of the game, click below thanks to 519 Sports Online.

The loss sets the Mounties back to a 16-11-2-1 record, good for sixth in the PJHL Doherty Division, one point behind the Norwich Merchants.
Tuesday, the Mounties begin a very busy week, beginning on the road against the Burford Bulldogs at 8pm. Thursday, they are on the road when they take on the Ayr Centennials. Friday, the Mounties continued the long week against the Tavistock Braves, also on the road at 7:30pm, before returning home Saturday against the Woodstock Navy Vets at 7:20pm.

Bulldogs have tough start to 2020

It was a little bit of the same for the Burford Bulldogs Junior Hockey Club, as they kicked off 2020.
Thursday began with a 13-1 loss to the Ayr Centennials, before getting blanked 9-0 by the Tavistock Braves at home Saturday.
Thursday, the Bulldogs’ Connor MacPhee gave his team an early lead thanks to his power-play goal. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, it was all Centennials after that, as they were outshot 40-25.
Eric Maltby led the way for the centennials with a hat trick, while Matt Patton, and Jagger O’Toole netted a pair. Caden Bower, Calan Tanzi-Foshay, Steven Holmes, Kobe Roe, Ben Demoe, and Curtis Anderson all added one goal to the cause.
Saturday in Burford, Tanner Johnson netted the hat trick, while Jash Helgerman scored twice for the Braves.
Zac Berg, Spencer Shelp, Mitch McKay, and Justin Labrie all added singles in the victory, while Jensen VanBoekel made 18 stops for the shutout.
The 4-27-1-1 Bulldogs host the Paris Mounites Tuesday at 8pm, before they host the Centennials Saturday at 7:30pm.

VanBoekel has great effort in Travellers loss

Quinn VanBoekel certainly found a secret when it comes to Provincial Junior Hockey League Doherty Division action.
It is to strike early.
VanBoekel scored 46 seconds into the game and again 45 seconds into the second period. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the Delhi Travellers Jr. C, who dropped a 10-2 decision to the New Hamburg Firebirds.
Josh Vale led the way with a hat trick,, while Matt Larocelle and Matt Mercier each scored twice for the Firebirds. Singles went to Quinn Bisch, Brady Schmidt, and Cedrik Roth added one each.
The 0-29 Travellers are still looking for its first points of the season.
Tuesday the Travellers are on the road against the Ayr Centennials at 8pm. Friday and Saturday they also hit the road against the Woodstock Navy Vets and Wellesley Applejacks respectively at 7:45pm and 2pm.