PJHL finalists kick off regular season looking for another deep playoff run
By Lee Griffi
The Tavistock Braves made it to the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s championship series last May, something they are looking to repeat this season.
The team took the Fergus Whalers to five games after a gruelling playoff run, and with 14 returning players and some newcomers with solid hockey pedigree, the team has put itself in a good place on paper.
“Both our goalies are back between the pipes, which is big for us this year and trying to get back to finish the job,” said general manager Brent Lange.
Those goalies are Blake Richard, who carried the majority of the workload during the Schmaltz Cup playoffs, and New Hamburg native Andrew Torchia. The team also stacks up among the league’s best on the blueline.
“Our defence core has four returning from last year, which is another big factor for us. Carson Bernhardt is back for his fourth season, Keaton Bartlett and Jack Hodge their third, and Nathan Siebert. We also brought in Owen Yagar, a proven leader who just captained the Cambridge Riverhawks to the Southerland Cup championship last year in the GOHL.”
Lange said defenceman Liam McHugh, who AP’d with the team last year, has been signed, a player who will bring a big body presence on the back end.
“We also signed local Tavistock native Rowan Bartlett as well, who has now graduated from the U18 program after spending the last two seasons with the New Hamburg Jr. Firebirds.”
Returning forwards include Evan Palubeski, Yann Raskin, Jackson Andrews, Tucker Otto, Carter Otto, Nolan Miller, Felix Isert-Bender and Brett Bell.
“We have also signed and brought in a few more strong players as well that will help bolster our lineup. Jake Skuta, who was also on the Cambridge Riverhawks team last year, and Keenan McGrath, who brings a strong two-way game for us,” added Lange. “Leo Lajeunesse and Levi Westwood, who will also be fun players to watch, along with Hayden Doerbecker and Tyler Klein, who will add to our forward depth this season.”
The Braves also affiliated a few solid local players to call upon, including Marshall McKay, Jay Alexander and Gavin Greenlee.
Lange said last year’s playoff run was memorable and it was an incredible experience to be a part of it. This year he hopes for something much similar and added everyone knows the task at hand now and what it takes.
“But we have to start the year ready to go and go at it one game at a time. We will have some kinks to work out like every team to start the year.”
Tavistock recently named its four captains for the campaign, something Lange said wasn’t overly difficult to do.
“Each one of them is great and leads on and off the ice. Keaton Bartlett is our captain this year, a good Tavi(stock) boy who leads on the ice and off and has a strong voice in the room people will listen to. He wore an A for us last year.”
Another assistant from last season, Bernhardt, will again wear an A, as will the newly acquired Yagar.
“He came in this year and just brings such a strong presence to our team in the room and on the ice. Great young man who leads by example and is a very respectful and respected by everyone in that room. Palubeski was another one we picked to wear an A for us this season. We will rely on him to lead us on and off the ice.”
At a recent press conference, Bartlett said it’s an honour to wear the captain’s C for his hometown team.
“Growing up in Tavi and coming to watch Braves games was awesome and I hope to be able to lead these guys by working hard and doing all the little things right. There has been a lot of hard work coming from the leads we have had here in the past. Marc (Dionne) worked very hard … and was a team-first guy. I think I’m just looking to keep that rolling.”
Another positive for the team is the return of the entire coaching staff led by bench boss Zac Berg. Lange said it was an easy decision.
“Winning coaches of the year on the Doherty side and taking us to the Schmalz Cup finals is something pretty impressive in only their second year as junior coaches. Not many people get that chance to do what they did in over a five- or 10-year career. Them all being Tavistock Minor Hockey and Tavistock Braves graduates is also something pretty cool.”
Lange doesn’t expect the division to get any easier this season, and it is always one of the league’s strongest.
“Wellesley has loaded up pretty good this year, New Hamburg will be a good strong team again like every year. Norwich and Dorchester have added some good young players as well and should be pretty good, and Paris and Hespeler will be improved as well.”
He added the team will be ready for another solid season and perhaps another Schmaltz Cup run.
“It takes all 25 players to play as a family and a team and battle to the end. We did that and came up short. We will be ready to compete and try and get back to finish the job this year.”
Tavistock begins its regular season on Friday, Sept. 11, in Norwich for an 8 p.m. start. The home opener is set for one week later as the Braves take on the New Hamburg Firebirds at 7:30 p.m.
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