Braves announce pair of player acquisitions

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tavistock made two more roster moves just before the roster deadline, acquiring forward Jackson Andrews from the Renfrew Timberwolves of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (EOJHL) and former Braves defenceman Jack Hodge back from the Waterloo Siskins of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL).

Andrews joins the team after suiting up for 25 games with the Timberwolves, picking up 18 points. He last played in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) with the Goderich Flyers last season. The 19-year-old Waterloo native also played part of a season with the Mitchell Hawks a few years ago.

“Jackson is a welcome addition for us, and he brings a strong veteran presence to our lineup. He was playing junior B up in the Ottawa area while doing his co-op for school. Now with him back home, we brought him in as he can play up and down our lineup and be a contributor for us. We can have him for a couple of years as well, which is nice,” said Braves general manager Brent Lange.

He added bringing Hodge back into the fold will be a big boost to an already strong blueline group.

“I’m very pleased with the group of players we have, and our staff have done a great job to prep them here as we begin to get it going down the stretch,” Lange said. 

Lange added Ethan Stover, Keegan Metcalf and Andrews have all been great fits for the team.

“Each guy is familiar with players on our team from growing up together or playing previously with one another in minor hockey.”

All-Star Game venues and rosters announced

The PJHL’s top talent will be on full display Sunday, Jan. 11, as the 2026 PJHL All-Star Games take place simultaneously across the province at 1 p.m. For the second consecutive year, Tavistock will host the South Conference battle as the Doherty takes on the Bloomfield, though the puck drops at 12:30 p.m.

“The league had reached out and asked us to host it again, as I don’t believe another team came forward to volunteer to host this year. They asked me again, I chatted with the executive and we said certainly, as it’s a good game to come to when best on best is playing one another,” said Lange.

He added it is a lot of work behind the scenes to host, but plenty of people have come forward.

“Having done it last year and it being a successful day, we’re prepared. Between myself, the executives for the front gate, the Blue Line Club, Seth and Marv Lies with the live scoring, and Wayne Triemstra and Scott Jacobs helping with the clock and music, we should have it all covered again.”

The league released a statement on its website, noting the importance of winning an all-star matchup.

“Each all-star game carries added importance as divisions will be competing for home-ice advantage in the Conference Finals, giving players and teams an extra incentive to secure a win. In addition, PJHL All-Star Game MVP Awards, presented by MilkUP, will be awarded following each game.”

While the PJHL has not released all-star rosters, the Braves will have three representatives in Ryan McKellar, Evan Palubeski and Yann Raskin. Raskin leads the team with 53 points while fellow forward Palubeski sits second with 47 points. McKellar is second in team scoring among defencemen with 23 points.

New Hamburg will be represented by assistant captain and forward Ben Oliver, who has 33 points to lead the Firebirds, along with defenceman Jordan Jacobs who has 19 points so far this season. Goalie Deklan Jermol rounds out the team’s all-stars. The New Hamburg native has a 2.81 goals-against average along with a .923 save percentage.

Wellesley has a pair of players suiting up for the Doherty Division All-Stars. Top scorer and forward Ian Speiran has 33 points on the season, while defenceman Riley Noble sits second in team scoring with 32 points.

More information on the locations of other all-star games is available on the PJHL website at www.thepjhl.ca.