PJHL roundup: Firebirds earn four weekend points with wins over Mounties and Shamrocks
By Lee Griffi
New Hamburg is trying to make some noise in the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) Doherty Division standings but couldn’t gain any ground on first-place Tavistock.
Both teams took all four points up for grabs on the weekend meaning the Firebirds sit in second place tied with Wellesley and four points behind the still undefeated Braves.
Deklan Jermol kicked out 40 shots on Friday night as New Hamburg blanked Paris 4-0 in front of over 500 fans at the Wilmot Recreation Centre. Ezra Fischer earned a pair of assists to lead the attack while 10 players chipped in with a single point.
On Sunday afternoon, the Firebirds skated into Hespeler and earned a 6-4 win thanks to another balanced attack and a pair of goals off the stick of Kaiden Cormier. Ten others picked up one point each as Jake Howard stopped 28 of 32 shots he faced to earn the win.
Local product Jack MacDonald has taken over the team’s captain role after Andrew Gear aged out. MacDonald knows he has big skates to fill.
“Gearsy was a good guy in and out of the locker room and he did a lot for the team last year. He was an extrovert and liked to speak whereas I am more of an introvert and stay quiet, but what I learned from him is there is a time and place to step up and say some things.”
He added he didn’t expect to be given the C, but it is something he is very thankful for.
“This is my fourth year with the Firebirds and fifth year in junior, so I guess I wasn’t too surprised but also surprised at the same time.”
MacDonald, who is studying architecture at Conestoga College, played a full season with the Cambridge Redhawks of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL) in 2023-2024, something he said was a great experience.
“The amount of hockey I played and the commitment level involved; it’s almost double the amount of ice time in Junior C. My game improved and the veterans and captains on that team were very skilled and knowledgeable. Learning from them definitely helped.
MacDonald said overall, he’s pleased with how the team has started the season despite a lot of new faces and some younger players.
“We get along very well. That’s one of the benefits of playing for New Hamburg; we always have really tight groups. That was a worry coming into this season with a lot of rookies and new guys, but we’ve come together really quickly and are close.”
He is also very aware Tavistock is the team to beat in the Doherty Division this season but that doesn’t mean the Firebirds can take anyone lightly.
“I’d like to think we play in one of the best divisions in the PJHL. You really can’t take a night off and play hard night in and night out. We also have to stick to our game plan and not lose sight of the goal. Skills is nice but it always comes down to how hard we’re working as a team. That’s our goal; be consistent and get better as the season goes on.”
MacDonald added his plan is to complete his junior career in a Firebirds uniform following next season and he can’t think of a better place to play.
“It means a lot. I grew up coming to the rink on Friday nights watching this team play and being able to do that for next two years is something really special to me and something I am very thankful for – to be on the ice let alone being captain. We’re hoping for big things this season.”
Head coach Shane Gerber said his captain has done everything expected of him so far.
“He works hard, leads by example and is always willing to learn. He has also been very disciplined this season.”
New Hamburg hosts Norwich on Friday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Anyone bringing a non-perishable food item in support of the Wilmot and Wellesley Resource Centre will receive free admission.
Tavistock is still undefeated after two weekend victories, including a 5-2 home-ice win over Wellesley on Friday. The Braves led 2-1 after 20 minutes on powerplay goals by Jacob Skuta and Owen Yagar while Evan Palubeski scored twice in the second period, including the game-winning goal just 18 second into the frame. Yagar added a pair of insurance markers as part of his five-point night and now has 15 points in seven games, good enough for third on the team.
Tavistock travelled to Norwich on Saturday and came away with a 7-0 drubbing of the Merchants. Andrew Torchia stopped all 23 shots he faced to earn the shutout while Keenan McGrath led the attack with a goal and two helpers.
The Applejacks bounced back on Saturday with a 4-1 home-ice victory over Paris as they outshot the Mounties 46-27. Kyler Morgan and Cooperman led the attack with three points each.
Comments