PJHL Roundup: Braves winless in five

The New Hamburg Firebirds celebrated Minor Hockey Day on Sunday during a game against the Dorchester Dolphins. A total of 10 alumni are on this year’s Firebirds team. Contributed photo

By Lee Griffi

Tavistock’s Provincial Junior Hockey League season continues to be a struggle but they did manage to earn a point against Norwich on Saturday in front of over 200 fans at the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre.

Logan Van Den Akker scored his first goal of the season just 15 seconds into overtime to give the Merchants the win and pull them into a first-place tie with New Hamburg on top of the Doherty Division standings. The goal came on the powerplay as Keaton Bartlett was serving a late third-period minor for hooking. The Braves led 2-0 after 20 minutes on goals from Yianni Peppas and Kye Taylor, his first of the season. The Merchants scored the only two goals of the second period before a scoreless third.

Norwich went 2 for 8 with the man advantage while Tavistock was 0 for 2. The Merchants outshot the Braves 36-17.

Tavistock hosted New Hamburg on Friday and stuck with the visitors through 40 minutes, but the Firebirds scored twice in the third period to earn a 5-3 victory. The game was New Hamburg’s only matchup of the weekend.

The Braves opened the scoring five minutes into the first and the teams exchanged five markers before Owen Fischer scored the game-winning goal four minutes into the final frame, his nineteenth of the season. Owen Bruder’s twentieth of the campaign with three minutes left rounded out the scoring.

“Our team made great strides this weekend we played well as a unit, considering we had a depleted lineup,” explained Tavistock’s rookie general manager, Brent Lange. “In both games, we played hard and as a team and competed for all 60 minutes.” 

He added the Beaves played solid in Friday night’s loss but added goalie Lander Hartley would have liked to have another chance at the goals he let in during the third. 

“Saturday afternoon we started out strong and competed pretty well as a team. We battled through some tough calls against us, but our discipline has gotten better for the most part. Saturday seemed like we were playing against two teams at times.”

Lange was complimentary of the effort by Kaden Lange between the pipes on Saturday.

“He played a heck of a game for us and held us in there when we needed to make some big saves. Our power play has been strong of late as well so that's always a positive for us and we want to keep it going.”

Tavistock has seven regular season games remaining and trails Paris by a single point but does have two games in hand.

As long as we keep competing hard down the stretch and battling every period. We will be fine. And heading into the playoffs on a positive note. If the playoffs were to begin today the Braves would face New Hamburg but it is anyone’s guess where the final standings will end up.

“Anything can happen in the playoffs with any team. So, if it's New Hamburg, Woodstock or Wellesley, it is what it is. We will be ready and show up and compete hard as a team each game. There are seven games series for a reason. 

Firebirds lose on Hockey Day in New Hamburg

The Firebirds ended up splitting the weekend following a 3-2 loss to Dorchester in front of nearly 400 fans on Sunday afternoon. Michael Gear tied the game at one with a goal at the buzzer at the end of the first period and Fischer again tied it up in the second after the Dolphins took a 2-1 lead early in the second. The third frame was scoreless as Dorchester snapped New Hamburg’s six-game win streak.

All minor hockey players in New Hamburg received free entrance into the game as the Firebirds celebrated the 10 graduates who now play for the junior team.

Applejacks drop both weekend matchups

Wellesley travelled to Norwich on Friday and was outshot 40-24 in a 4-2 loss. The teams were tied at two after 20 minutes and after a scoreless second, the Merchants notched the game-winner early in the third and added a late empty-net marker. Tyler Wagler and Dimitri Eleftheriadis scored for the Applejacks.

On Saturday, Wellesley hosted surging Paris and dropped a 5-3 decision. The Applejacks led 3-2 after 40 minutes, but the Titans tied it up just 38 seconds into the third period and added the game-winner at the 12:25 mark before adding an empty-net goal.

Owen Troyer led the Wellesley attack with a pair of goals and an assist while Connor Doerbecker added two points.

Paris has now won three straight games and moved one point ahead of Tavistock.