By Darryl G. Smart
It really was a regular season to remember for the Hagersville Hawks, its captain Matt Weston and rookie Jayden Lammel. And for their efforts, they were named the Provincial Junior Hockey League Bloomfield Division Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year respectively.
With the sudden shutdown of all hockey in North America because of the COVID-19 virus, the PJHL divisions have been trickling out its annual awards.
During a season that saw the Hawks finish in second place in a very tight Bloomfield Division with a 28-9-3-2 record, Weston, the team’s captain led the way on and off the ice. His 24 goals and 32 assists led his team. The forward from Caledonia led the Bloomfield Division in helpers, and was fifth in goals, while his 56 points was the third best behind the Galnbrook Rangers Noah Matteson (60) and Noah Bollert (59).
In November, Weston was also named the Bloomfield Division Forward of the Month.
Lammel played 41 games for his hometown junior hockey team, and his enthusiasm showed through his style of play, and nine goals and 27 assists. His 36 points put him in a tie for third on the Hawks with veteran Ralph Taggart.
His second game of the season was a sign of things to come. The Hagersville resident earned his first three PJHL points with three assists in a 4-3 win over the Dunnville Mudcats. He also had a three-point night against the Mudcats that included two goals, his most, in November.
OTHER AWARDS
Matteson was the Bloomfield’s top scorer, while the Grimsby Peach Kings tandem of Riley Maskell and Riley Eberhardt earned the top goalie award, while teammate Matt Schouppe was the division’s top defencemen.