PJHL Roundup: Merchants surge into first place but Doherty tight at the top

By Lee Griffi

Don’t look now but there’s a new team at the top of one of the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) most competitive divisions.

The Norwich Merchants are two points up on second-place Wellesley and New Hamburg who each have 24 points. The Firebirds do have two games in hand on both teams while the Woodstock Navy Vets sit in fourth with 23 points.

The Merchants downed the Firebirds 3-2 on Saturday night in front of 350 fans at the Wilmot Recreation Centre to take over the division lead. Aydan Burns gave New Hamburg a 1-0 lead but Norwich roared back with two first-period goals. The teams traded second-period goals with a scoreless third. Keegan Metcalfe scored the second New Hamburg goal.

New Hamburg captain Owen Fischer said despite the loss, he’s somewhat pleased with where the team is at this point in the season.

“We are in second place and have a good record, but with all the injuries we’ve had, we can’t really complain. We also haven’t played our best hockey and I think everyone knows that. We’re waiting for everyone to get back and start playing the way we know how to,” Fischer said.

Fischer dislocated his shoulder early in the season and missed several games but is back on the ice.

“It was tough at the start, watching the guys play while being a spectator and I’m not very good at that. I made sure I didn’t rush back and took my time to heal up and now it feels fine.”

Fischer is averaging over a point per game to date but added his personal statistics aren’t something top of mind for him.

“I am more concerned with how the teams is playing. As the captain, I feel that’s more my responsibility as to how we are doing as a group and performing on the ice. That’s my biggest concern. We are winning games but we also know we aren’t playing our best hockey right now and we have some things to work on.”

He added the Firebirds have had players in and out of the lineup all season due to injuries making chemistry difficult.

“We have multiple callups in the lineup and different guys going down with injuries for weeks at a time. It’s hard to get used to some things and we understand that, and we are okay with our record but at the same time, we are all striving to do better.”

When it comes to Norwich being back on top of the regular season standing for the first time in several years, Fischer said there are a few reasons why the Merchants have played so well this season.

“They are a well-coached team and they buy in pretty well. They’ve got some good systems in place and when they buy in, they know when they outwork you, they’ll win. They are a hardworking team and they give you everything they have. That’s like most teams in this division. If you don’t give 100 per cent, you’ll get beat up.”

Despite the struggles Tavistock is experiencing so far this season, Fischer said the Firebirds will never take any game against the Braves lightly.

“They have our number and have beaten us twice this year. That’s just a little more motivation for us to use when we are playing them. I know they have had a lot of injury problems and have been inconsistent so far, but they sure come to play against us.”

There is not an option for a first-round bye in the Doherty Division this season after the PJHL added Dorchester. Fischer explained first place is still a goal for the team.

“At the end of the day, we still want it, that’s our goal. It would give us home-ice advantage which is so important and it helped us last year with our playoff run. Once we get everyone back and healthy and have our regular lineup every night, we can build momentum for the playoffs.”

The Firebirds and the PJHL are well known for what is done off the ice in its communities. Fischer said the team’s off-ice contributions are something he takes to heart.

“For me, it means everything. I have come to realize how important the Firebirds are to the New Hamburg area. At the end of the day, we are just playing hockey but when we can go out after a game and talk to everyone and see how happy it makes them, it means everything.”

He added young fans treat the team like they are NHL players, something that creates a special relationship especially with young kids in the community.

“We are having a great time and they are having an even better time. To be able to deliver that excitement, joy and happiness to other people with just being hockey players is an amazing feeling. They are so appreciative of us and anything we can do to give back is more than deserved.”

Applejacks down Braves and Dolphins

Tavistock’s only game of the weekend resulted in a 5-2 loss to Wellesley on Friday.

Dimitri Eleftheradias had a huge night for the Applejacks with two goals and a pair of assists as they never trailed in the game. Owen Stoddard scored twice in the winning effort with a single from Kian Harron. Izzac Blum had two goals in a losing effort, his fourth and fifth of the season.

The Braves outshot the Applejacks 44-36 but Wellesley goaltender Brendan Abbot stopped 42 shots and earned first star of the game. Tavistock went scoreless on eight powerplay opportunities.

Wellesley earned a 1-0 win at home against Dorchester on Saturday.

Jake L’Heureux scored his third of the season on a setup from Brennan Kennedy and Liam Waddel to lead the Applejacks to the win, their third in a row.

Xavier Bissiere stopped all 30 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the season. The rookie from Mercier, Que., has a 2.45 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.