PJHL Roundup: Navy Vets struggle to start the PJHL season while Trojans surge

Lee Griffi, Editor

Woodstock won its first game of the Provincial Junior Hockey League season with a 7-3 home opener win in front of nearly 700 fans against Wellesley, but it’s been tough sailing since then.

The Navy Vets have dropped three in a row and have been outscored 17-11 in that time. They are tied for seventh place in the Doherty Division with the New Hamburg Firebirds.

Woodstock started last weekend with a 6-5 home loss to Paris in a game they were outshot 45-37. Will McGregor had a goal and a pair of assists in a losing effort, with Cooper Vickerman adding two helpers and Kingston McPherson chipping in with a goal and an assist.

The Navy Vets travelled to Wellesley on Saturday where they dropped a 7-3 decision to the Applejacks. McGergor, Vickerman and Rashaad Eichenberg found the back of the net for Woodstock, who were outshot 34-23.

Woodstock downed Wellesley 7-3 to start the season on Sept. 12 but dropped a 4-3 decision in Norwich the following night. The Navy Vets have been outshot 151-134 in the four games to date.

Vickerman leads the team in scoring with three goals and 10 points. The 19-year-old started last season with the GOJHL’s Pelham Panthers before heading to the PJHL’s Georgina Ice. Team defence has been an issue so far as the Navy Vets have allowed just under five goals per game, worst in the division.

The Navy Vets host Norwich this Friday, their only game of the weekend.

Merchants take early Doherty lead

Norwich has won three of four games to begin the season and has a one-point lead over Wellesley. They blanked Hespeler 3-0 on Sunday with Thomas Staszczyszyn stopping all 30 shots he faced. On Friday, the Merchants dropped a 3-2 decision to Dorchester in a shootout.

Norwich hits the road this weekend, beginning with a game in Woodstock on Friday night and a trip to Tavistock on Saturday.

Trojans take three out of four games to lead division

Thamesford has a one-point lead on North Middlesex for top spot in the West Yeck Division with the only blemish on their record being a 2-1 loss in Petrolia last Thursday.

The Trojans came back with a 7-5 win over the Stars a night later. Former Navy Vets captain Davin Gray and Owen Eldridge lead the attack with three points each. Ronan Panziera, Andrew Kalanztakos and Hayden Kemps and Ayden Hakkers added two points apiece. 16 players have hit the scoresheet for Thamesford this season with Hakkers and Gray leading the way with five points each.

Thamesford hosts Aylmer this Friday and travels to Port Stanley on Saturday.