News

By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: Sandra Weishar Pierik 

Next week the Kincardine Bulldogs of the PJHL’s Pollock Division will embark on an International hockey adventure to Scandinavia. On Wednesday, December 27th the Bulldogs are set to travel overseas to play four games against teams in Sweden and Finland before returning to Canada Thursday, January 4th. The Tour is being organized by Moore Sports Tours, the same company that helped bring EHC Dübendorf from Switzerland to play six PJHL teams last year.

Kincardine is currently in a tie for second place with the Walkerton Hawks in the Pollock Division with a record of 17-9-1-3 for 38 points in 30 games. The team will be travelling with one goalie and 17 skaters and a total tour group of 42 people. Ethan Primeau will be tending the Kincardine net each game, with the host team supplying a backup goaltender, similar to what the PJHL teams did last year with EHC Dübendorf from Switzerland.

Kincardine will first play two Swedish teams, followed by two Finnish teams on their trip (all times are local, Sweden is 6 hours ahead of us and Finland is 7 hours ahead):
Friday, January 29 at 7:00 PM vs Tyresö Hanvikens SK
Saturday, January 29 at 1:00 PM vs Jarna SK
Tuesday, January 2 at 7:00 PM vs HaKi A
Wednesday, January 3 at 7:00 PM vs HaKi B

Last season the Bulldogs had the opportunity to play against EHC Dübendorf, and when General Manager Doug Kennedy approached his returning players to check their interest in going overseas this year, the response was overwhelmingly yes; the Bulldogs wanted even more International hockey. Kennedy, who helped organize last year’s tour by the Swiss team, had taken a high school team overseas three years ago and sees a huge value in taking part in this kind of venture, saying “It’s not just about the hockey, hopefully they look back and think about the whole trip, the sites and the different cultures. These kids will be connected through life by being part of our team and this will make their connection even more special.”

Kennedy added that one of the Swiss players who stayed with billets in Kincardine returned in the summer and spent three weeks with them. It goes to show the lasting impact this type of tour can have on players and their families.

Bullodgs’ Team Captain Derrick Bernath is eager to face the European teams and experience the different cultures and explore the sites and cities with his teammates. Bernath said, “I think it is a really cool experience that everyone on the team is looking forward to and we are excited to have the opportunity to represent Canada and the PJHL in Sweden and Finland.”

The Bulldogs are a young, but hard-working team that has been successful so far this season after a tough start, Kennedy said that if they don’t show up with their work boots on, they struggle. Kennedy added, “We have a lot of good players, but together we are a solid team. We have to play the right way to be successful.”

Kennedy sees this tour as a great learning experience for their team, saying: “European hockey is different than the way we typically play. We should learn from playing from these teams and make adjustments. It will make us a better team.” 

The Bulldogs’ first game is on Friday, January 29th in Tyresö, Sweden against Tyresö Hanvikens SK at 7:00 PM. Tyresö is a suburb south east of Stockholm and has a population of 47,000. Hanvikens SK plays in the J20 Division 1 (Eastern B Group), which is the third level of under-20 hockey in Sweden, below the J20 SuperElit and J20 Elit. Hanvikens SK is currently tied for first place in their Group with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses.

The following day the Bulldogs will travel to Jarna, Sweden to play Jarna SK at 1:00 PM. Jarna is 50 km south west of Stockholm and has a population of just under 6,400. Jarna SK is currently in fifth place with a record of 7 wins, 6 losses and 1 tie, in the same J20 Division 1 Group as Hanvikens SK. Later that evening part of the tour group will be taking in a Swedish Elite League game at the Ericsson Globe between Djurgården and Malmö. 

After an overnight cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki, the Bulldogs will have the opportunity to test their skills in shooting airguns and team handball on Tuesday, January 2nd, before facing Harjun Kiekko (HaKi) A in Lohja, Finland at 7:00 PM. Lohja is 60 km west of Helsinki with a population of almost 47,000. HaKi A finished in 5th place in section 3 of the Finnish U20 Tier III League and will be playing in the Finnish U20 Youth League starting in January as they failed to advance to the Tier III series.

On Wednesday, January 3rd, the Bulldogs will play their fourth and final game of their Scandinavian tour back in Lohja, but this time they will face Harjun Kiekki (HaKi) B. HaKi B finished last (7th) in section 4 of the Finnish U18 Tier II qualifications with a record of 2-22-0. In January they will be competing in the Finnish U18 Tier III series.

The following morning, on Thursday, January 4th, the group will be up early to catch their flight from Helsinki to Frankfurt, Germany; and then from Frankfurt to Toronto; before finally getting back home to Kincardine later in the day. 

This is a once in a lifetime hockey opportunity for the Kincardine Bulldogs, but not likely the last time many of them will travel overseas as is often the case, once they are exposed to the different cultures, they will want to return for more.

Twitter hashtag: #bulldogsoverseas

TEAM LINKS:

Kincardine Bulldogs - PJHL Pollock Division
http://ohabulldogs.pointstreaksites.com
https://www.facebook.com/KincardineBulldogs/
https://twitter.com/JrC_Bulldogs

Tyresö Hanvikens SK (Sweden)- J20
https://hanvikenssk.myclub.se/ishockey/thhj20
http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=5116

Jarna SK (Sweden)- J20
https://www.laget.se/JSKJ20
https://www.facebook.com/J%C3%A4rna-SK-J20-441704672667151/
http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=23970

HaKi A (Finland) - U20
http://www.harjunkiekko.fi/joukkueet/2333
https://www.facebook.com/harjunkiekkoa/
http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=17853

HaKi B (Finland) - U18
http://www.harjunkiekko.fi/joukkueet/2334
https://www.facebook.com/Harjun-Kiekko-B-1356339341117220/
http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=20900