PJHL Roundup: Braves winless skid reaches nine

By Lee Griffi

Tavistock’s late-season struggles continue as they dropped a pair of weekend road games and, as a result, will finish in seventh place in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) Doherty Division.

The Braves started the weekend with a 5-3 loss in Woodstock to the Navy Vets who have won six in a row. Tavistock started slow and trailed 4-0 by the 17:36 mark of the second period. Carson Bernhardt’s 10^th of the season made it 4-1, but the Vets regained a four-goal lead early in the third.

Ethan Sharpe’s fifth of the campaign pulled the Braves to within three and Liam Gorman scored on the powerplay late in the third to round out the scoring. Woodstock forward Aiden Kinduyrs was assessed a gross misconduct for discrimination at the end of the first period after he took a boarding minor. He is serving an indefinite suspension until a hearing to determine his fate can be held.

Tavistock travelled to Wellesley on Saturday where they again allowed the game’s first four goals in a 5-1 loss. Ethan Sharpe picked up his sixth goal of the season for the Braves who were outshot 36-29.

The Braves play their final three regular-season games this weekend starting with the front end of a home and home with Hespeler on Friday with the tail end Sunday. On Monday, Tavistock takes on first-place Norwich for a Family Day matinee at 2:30 p.m.

Applejacks split weekend matchups

Despite a 4-1 loss on Friday in New Hamburg, Wellesley clinched fourth place in the Doherty Division and will take on Dorchester in the first round of the playoffs.

Owen Troyer scored for Wellesley, which gave up two powerplay goals but outshot the Firebirds 48-38 as Josh Jacklin picked up the win in goal.

The Applejacks’ two remaining games of the regular season are at home as they host the Dolphins on Saturday night before a Family Day matinee on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Firebirds need help to overtake Merchants

New Hamburg’s final two regular-season games are must-win to have any chance at overtaking Norwich for the division’s top spot. The Firebirds travel to Dorchester Friday then host Woodstock on Monday at 1:15 p.m. The Merchants have a game in hand on the Firebirds and battle Woodstock, Paris and Tavistock on the weekend.

League hires for player safety position

The PJHL recently announced Rob Nixon has been hired as the incoming player safety director. Nixon will be tasked with overseeing all current rules, researching and recommending updating rules when needed and, most importantly, protecting all players, game officials and spectators during PJHL games.

Nixon has been part of the league and its operations for many years, including most recently as the Mount Forest Patriots’ director of hockey. He assumed the role in a part-time capacity on Feb. 1.

“The PJHL recently has gone through a thorough process of advertising, vetting, interviewing and hiring a player safety director. We had 16 applicants and 14 of them were good with a variety of experiences that related to the role,” said league commissioner Terry Whiteside.

“Rob has extensive experience officiating, has a strong playing background, has coached and managed in minor and junior hockey, has experience on the administrative side of minor and junior associations and also has a career background in discipline and investigations.”