Navy Vets celebrate individual honours and lead first-round series

Four Woodstock Navy Vets earned Doherty Division hardware after the 2025-26 regular season. From left to right are Owen Ireton, Charley Barnes, PJHL South Conference Manager Steve Sumka, Kobe Nadalin and Tyler Bouck. (Bill Polzin photo)

Lee Griffi, Editor

Woodstock is in the driver’s seat in its Provincial Junior Hockey League first-round series, leading Dorchester three games to none. Game four is scheduled for Friday night at home.

The Navy Vets have outscored the Dolphins 17-5, including a 7-2 road victory on Monday night. Owen Ireton and Cooper Vickerman led the offence with 2 goals and 2 assists each, while Charley Barnes added a single marker and two helpers.

Woodstock won the first two games by scores of 3-1 and 7-2. The Navy Vets' big guns have produced so far in the postseason, with Vickerman leading the way with 8 points, followed by Barnes and Ireton with 7 each.

The Navy Vets won their second Doherty Division regular season title in the last five seasons. Five individual awards were also presented to Woodstock players as voted on by teams in the division.

2025-26 PJHL Doherty Division Rookie of the Year – Kobe Nadalin

The 16-year-old netminder from Woodstock starred in his first junior season, leading the Doherty with a 2.04 Goals Against Average and the entire PJHL with a .945 save Nadalin is the second Navy Vet to win the rookie award in the last four seasons and just the second Navy Vet goalie to win the rookie award following his father Ron, who won it in 1996.

2025-26 PJHL Doherty Division Top Goalie Award – Tyler Bouck

The veteran overage goalie from Tillsonburg led the Doherty Division with 17 wins and 5 shutouts with a 2.49 goals against average and .928 Save Percentage. He is the first Navy Vets goalie to win the award since Mike Matika in 2000.

2025-26 PJHL Doherty Division Team Best Goaltending Award – Tyler Bouck and Kobe Nadalin

The duo combined to allow the fewest goals against in the division, with only 102 goals allowed in 42 games for a 2.43 goals against average.

2025-26 PJHL Doherty Division Top Defenceman Award – Charley Barnes

The overager from London led all Doherty Division defencemen in scoring with 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points, finishing fifth overall. Barnes also won the award last season.

2025-26 PJHL Doherty Division Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player – Owen Ireton

The overager from Cambridge led the division in scoring with 36 goals and 39 assists for 75 points, becoming the third Navy Vet to lead the division in scoring in the past five seasons (Davin Gray in 2024 and Kyle Baker in 2022). He is also the first Woodstock player to hit the 30-goal mark since Mike Stevenson in 1999. He was the only Navy Vet to play in all 42 regular season games.