PJHL: WEEK IN REVIEW - DEC. 18
By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: J. Visca, Clarington Eagles
With just a few weeks left in 2017, very little is settled in the PJHL as there are battles for position in every Division and half of the Divisions have two or three teams within two points of first place. The PJHL Week In Review will return in the New Year focused on playoff positions in all eight divisions.
SCORING LEADERS
Points: 79 - JD Falconer (Stayner)
Goals: 44 - JD Falconer (Stayner)
Assists: 48 - Ben Hughes (Stayner)
Click here for full PJHL Scoring Leader stats
GOALIE LEADERS
Wins: 20 - Riley Maskell (Grimsby)
GAA: 1.67 - Jax D’Hondt (Essex)
SV%: .941 - Marcus Semiao (Stayner)
Click here for full PJHL Goalie Leader stats
EAST CONFERENCE: ORR DIVISION
The Lakefield Chiefs served notice to the rest of the teams in their division last week with a signature win over the second place Port Perry MoJacks. Port Perry entered the game with the most road wins in the Orr Division, but Lakefield opened the game with a 6-goal first period and ended up with a 12-5 win on home ice behind Aaron Vatcher’s 8-point performance. The Chiefs now lead Port Perry by two points but the battle is far from over as the two teams face each other once more before the end of the regular season and Uxbridge and Clarington are still in the hunt as well. The wildest game of the week took place in North Kawartha where the Knights scored four straight goals in the second and third periods to tie the Georgina Ice at 7-7, and completed the comeback 50 seconds into overtime to defeat the Ice 8-7.
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Aaron Vatcher (Lakefield) vs Port Perry Dec. 12, Matthew McIntyre (Lakefield) vs Port Perry Dec. 12, Graham Lamers (Port Perry) vs Lakefield Dec. 12, Matthew McIntyre (Lakefield) vs Little Britain Dec. 16
Assists: 5 - Aaron Vatcher (Lakefield) vs Port Perry Dec. 12
Points: 8 - Aaron Vatcher (3G, 5A) (Lakefield) vs Port Perry Dec. 12
Saves: 52 - Brett Chandler (L) (Little Britain) vs Port Perry Dec. 17
EAST CONFERENCE: TOD DIVISION
The Port Hope Panthers were the busiest team in the Tod Division last week, playing four games, winning three. Their only loss was to the Picton Pirates on Thursday, a 4-1 loss in Picton; however the Panthers avenged that loss with an 8-3 win on home ice two nights later against the Pirates. Port Hope now trails first place Napanee by just five points, however Napanee has played three fewer games. Behind Port Hope, the rest of the teams are spaced out as Picton now trails Port Hope by seven points, Amherstview trails Picton by seven, Gananoque trails Amherstview for the final playoff position by 15, and Campbellford is 12 points behind Gananoque as they look for their first points of the year.
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Cameron Lowery (Port Hope) vs Campbellford Dec. 12, Graham Dickerson (Port Hope) vs Picton Dec. 16, Cameron Harris (Port Hope) vs Amherstview Dec. 17
Assists: 4 - Cameron McGill (Port Hope) vs Picton Dec. 16
Points: 5 - Cameron McGill (1G, 4A) (Port Hope) vs Picton Dec. 16
Saves: 42 - Nathan Walford (L) (Campbellford) vs Port Hope Dec. 12
Shutout: 23 SV - Colin Husovic (Port Hope) vs Campbellford Dec. 12
NORTH CONFERENCE: CARRUTHERS DIVISION
On Thursday the Stayner Siskins won their 29th consecutive game to start the season with a 12-2 win over rival Alliston, but the following night the Midland Flyers handed them their first loss of the season as Midland doubled the Siskins 6-3 on home ice. Last week was one of the wildest weeks in the Carruthers all season as the Orillia Terriers were the only team not to win at least one game, and the Penetang Kings were the only team not to lose at least once. Penetang’s perfect two win week has moved them into a tied for third place with the Caledon Golden Hawks with 30 points, but Schomberg is only two points back, and Midland is just two points behind them. Creeping into the picture are the Huntsville Otters who are just four points behind Midland and are playing their best hockey of the season.
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - JD Falconer (Stayner) vs Alliston Dec. 14, Ben Sly (Penetang) vs Alliston Dec. 15, Cody Jones (Huntsville) vs Orillia Dec. 15
Assists: 5 - Kevin Boyd (Stayner) vs Alliston Dec. 14
Points: 5 - Kevin Boyd (5A) (Stayner) vs Alliston Dec. 14
Saves: 51 - Derek Haourt (L) (Orillia) vs Caledon Dec. 17
NORTH CONFERENCE: POLLOCK DIVISION
The Mount Forest Patriots were 3-0 last week and have opened a six point lead over the Walkerton Hawks and Kincardine Bulldogs for first place in the Pollock Division. The Patriots opened the weekend with a 6-5 OT win in Wingham, and followed up with two important home wins against Kincardine 4-1 and Walkerton 6-3. The battle between the top three teams is likely to continue for the remainder of the regular season with Wingham and Mitchell still hoping to jump into the mix as Wingham currently trails Walkerton and Kincardine by just four points and leads Mitchell by two points for fourth spot.
Top Performances
Goals: 2 - Brendon Aitken (Mount Forest) vs Wingham Dec. 15, Derek Elliott (Mitchell) vs Goderich Dec. 16, Ryan Overton (Mitchell) vs Goderich Dec. 16, Blake Pickering (Mitchell) vs Goderich Dec. 16, Ethan Long (Wingham) vs Walkerton Dec. 16, Brendon Aitken (Mount Forest) vs Walkerton Dec. 17
Assists: 5 - Blair Butchart (Mount Forest) vs Wingham Dec. 15
Points: 5 - Blair Butchart (5A) (Mount Forest) vs Wingham Dec. 15
Saves: 40 - Aidan Quish (W) (Mount Forest) vs Walkerton Dec. 17
Shutout: 30 SV - Curtis Laviolette (Mitchell) vs Hanover Dec. 17
SOUTH CONFERENCE: BLOOMFIELD DIVISION
The Glanbrook Rangers and Grimsby Peach Kings continue to win, Grimsby has won 13 straight and Glanbrook has won eight straight. Despite their 13 game winning streak, Grimsby still trails Glanbrook by five points, but the best races in the Bloomfield Division are below the top two teams as Dundas leads Port Dover by a single point for third and Niagara is leading Dunnville by a single point for fifth.
November Goaltender of the Month: Riley Maskell, Grimsby Peach Kings
November Defenseman of the Month: Josh Pace, Glanbrook Rangers
November Forward of the Month: Chris Cudek, Dundas Blues
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Brady Cranwell (Grimsby) vs Simcoe Dec. 17
Assists: 2 - Justin Whitwell (Glanbrook) vs Dundas Dec. 13, Domenic Procopio (Glanbrook) vs Dundas Dec. 13, Keaton Kewley (Glanbrook) vs Dundas Dec. 13, Ben Sheppard (Dundas) vs Dunnville Dec. 14, Connor King (Glanbrook) vs Hagersville Dec. 16, Mathew Rimac (Glanbrook) vs Hagersville Dec. 16
Points: 4 - Brady Cranwell (3G, 1A) (Grimsby) vs Simcoe Dec. 17
Saves: 50 - Gavin McLeod (L) (Simcoe) vs Grimsby Dec. 17
SOUTH CONFERENCE: DOHERTY DIVISION
The battle for first in the Doherty continues as Ayr currently holds the position with Tavistock just one point behind, but the Paris Mounties are making a charge, winners of six straight. Last week the Mounties shut out Tavistock 3-0 as they continued their strong play of late. The slate of games in the division was lighter than usual due to three games being postponed on Friday night due to poor weather but with just over a month left in the regular season almost nothing is secure with tights races first through seventh.
Top Performances
Goals: 4 - Dan Gallagher (Norwich) vs Delhi Dec. 16
Assists: 5 - Troy Lamoure (Norwich) vs Delhi Dec. 16
Points: 6 - Dan Gallagher (4G, 2A) (Norwich) vs Delhi Dec. 16, Blake Pow (Norwich) vs Delhi Dec. 16
Saves: 58 - Zach Weber (L) (Burford) vs Woodstock Dec. 15
Shutout: 26 SV - Justin Hergott (Paris) vs Tavistock Dec. 16
WEST CONFERENCE: STOBBS DIVISION
What a battle at the top of the Stobbs Division standings! Last week the top two teams struggled as Essex was 1-2 (with their win coming in a 1-0 overtime victory over Blenheim) and Lakeshore was 1-1, while the next three teams behind them were a combined 6-0. The Amherstburg Admirals picked up wins over both of the two teams at the top, beating Essex 3-2 and Lakeshore 6-3, to close to within a single point of first place. Likewise, Dresden beat Essex 6-4 and Wheatley 5-2 to move within three point of first, and Mooretown beat Petrolia 4-3 and Wheatley 3-2 in OT to move within five points of first. Only five points separate the top five teams in the division with just a little over a month left in the regular season.
Top Performances
Goals: 4 - Caleb Paquette (Amherstburg) vs Lakeshore Dec. 17
Assists: 4 - Josh Talerico (Amherstburg) vs Lakeshore Dec. 17
Points: 4 - Cole MacKinnon (2G, 2A) (Petrolia) vs Wallaceburg Dec. 13, Caleb Paquette (4G) (Amherstburg) vs Lakeshore Dec. 17, Josh Talerico (4A) (Amherstburg) vs Lakeshore Dec. 17, Cory Burns (1G, 3A) (Amherstburg) vs Lakeshore Dec. 17
Saves: 47 - Daniel Tonietto (OTL) (Wheatley) vs Mooretown Dec. 16
Shutout: 23 SV - Tyler Ryan (Essex) vs Blenheim Dec. 17
WEST CONFERENCE: YECK DIVISION
Weather wreaked havoc with the schedule in the Yeck Division last week as four of the nine scheduled games were cancelled. Despite the cancellations, every team managed to play at least once last week and the Exeter Hawks extended their winning streak to 12 games. The race at the top is tight with Lambeth currently holding a one point lead over Exeter and Dorchester and the North Middlesex Stars have stretched their lead in fourth place to six points over the Thamesford Trojans.
Top Performances
Goals: 2 - James Newland (Dorchester) vs Aylmer Dec. 16, Sam Baker (North Middlesex) vs Port Stanley Dec. 17, Tanner Lafrance (Mt. Brydges) vs Lambeth Dec. 17, Keith Arnold (Lambeth) vs Mt. Brydges Dec. 17
Assists: 2 - Spencer Mills (Thamesford) vs Lucan Dec. 15, Dylan Buckholz (Dorchester) vs Aylmer Dec. 16, Jake Alkins (North Middlesex) vs Exeter Dec. 16, Kain Hopkins (North Middlesex) vs Port Stanley Dec. 17, Tyler Simon (Port Stanley) vs North Middlesex Dec. 17, Jonah Goodman (Lambeth) vs Mt. Brydges Dec. 17
Points: 4 - Sam Baker (2G, 2A) (North Middlesex) vs Port Stanley Dec. 17
Saves: 45 - Logan Vermunt (Mt. Brydges) vs Lambeth Dec. 17
This Week: 45 games
(The PJHL Week in Review will return in 2018 on January 8 and will once again be posted on Mondays during the rest of the regular season.)
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