Tavistock claims Doherty title in seven-game thriller

Tavistock players, coaches, management and support staff pose for a photo with the Doherty Division playoff trophy. Alec Richard Photo

By Lee Griffi

The Braves have moved one step closer to reaching the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) final four after defeating Woodstock in an exciting Doherty Division Game 7 finale.

Tavistock downed Woodstock 4-3 in dramatic fashion on April Fool’s Day with a 4-3 road victory, thanks in large part to a pair of goals from Carter Arsenault, including the eventual game winner at the 13:30 mark of the third period.

The Braves jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead on goals from Ryan McKelllar and Evan Palubeski, but the Navy Vets battled back with markers from Cooper Vickerman and Will McGregor to even the score 13 minutes into the second frame. Arsenault’s first goal of the game with just one second on the clock in the period sent Tavistock to the locker room with a 3-2 lead.

Carson Littlejohn gave Woodstock some life with his eighth of the postseason with just over two minutes remaining but Tavistock was able to shut the door and seal the win.

The team’s next opponent is the Dundas Blues, who disposed of the Niagara Riverhawks in five games during the Bloomfield Division final.

“We have watched a couple of games over the last week or so, and we have good video on them. I think we match up well. They're quick, physical and hard on the forechecks, and so are we. It should be a great series,” said Braves general manager Brent Lange.

Despite being taken to seven games by the Navy Vets, Lange explained he was confident going into the series.

“Woodstock is a great team, and they have a great organization. We just knew, five-on-five throughout most of the series, we were the better team. They had a great powerplay that was stacked with five really good players, but we knew if we played our game, we would come out on top and we did.”

Lange added his team is a very tightknit group and described the team as a brotherhood.

“These guys would go through a wall for one another.”

Woodstock averaged well over 1,000 fans during the series while the much smaller Tavistock and District Recreation Centre jammed over 600 for each home game.

“Playing in front of our fans and their fans was amazing. Packed arenas with good followings for both teams in each arena were unreal.”

One of the most interesting statistics in the series was road teams won five of the seven games, three by Tavistock, including Game 7.

The series was the last one for the Woodstock Navy Vets, who are moving to the Greater Ontario Hockey League for the 2026-2027 season.

We wish them all the best in the Future in Junior B (GOHL) moving forward.