PJHL - Doherty Division Playoff Preview
Photo: Tanya Taylor, Censational Photography
The 2020 Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) playoffs begin Friday night in the Doherty Division as the regular season schedule has wound down. Below you will find summaries of each matchup along with each team’s positional statistical leader.
A full playoff schedule can be seen on the PJHL’s website HERE.
Playoff Series:
(1) Tavistock Braves vs. Burford Bulldogs (8); (2) Wellesley Applejacks vs. New Hamburg Firebirds (7); (3) Ayr Centennials vs. Norwich Merchants (6); (4) Woodstock Navy Vets vs. Paris Mounties (5)
(1) Tavistock Braves vs. Burford Bulldogs (8
The Tavistock Braves (30-6-3-1) had a great regular season that landed the team in first place in the South Conference’s Doherty Division. The Braves only lost six regulation games this season and are hoping to build on a great regular season in the playoffs. Burford (5-33-1-1) earned five regular season wins and will make their return to the postseason after missing last season.
Regular season leaders: Braves
Forward: Drew Gerth - GP: 40 - Goals: 33 - Assists: 34 - Points: 67
Defenceman: Thomas Haffner - GP: 39 - Goals: 16 - Assists: 47 - Points: 63
Goaltender: Carter Roth - GP: 20 - Record: 15-2-1 - GAA: 2.11 - Sv. %: .938
Regular season leaders: Bulldogs
Forward: Connor MacPhee - GP: 38 - Goals: 14 - Assists: 15 - Points: 29
Defenceman: Josef Sorensen - GP: 33 - Goals: 3 - Assists: 9 - Points: 12
Goaltender: Caleb Ursu - GP: 28 - Record: 4-19-1 - GAA: 6.27 - Sv. %: .868
(2) Wellesley Applejacks vs. New Hamburg Firebirds (7)
In the 2019 postseason the Wellesley Applejacks (28-6-2-4) went all the way to the South Conference finals where they were ousted by the Grimsby Peach Kings (Bloomfield Division). This playoffs, the team’s journey begins against the New Hamburg Firebirds (17-17-3-3), who finished seventh in the division standings. Last season, this two teams met in the second round of the playoffs and that resulted in a six game series win for the Applejacks.
Regular season leaders: Applejacks
Forward: Shaun Pickering - GP: 39 - Goals: 30 - Assists: 35 - Points: 65
Defenceman: James Ranson - GP: 40 - Goals: 10 - Assists: 27 - Points: 37
Goaltender: Duncan Rolleman GP: 20 - Record: 15-3-1 - GAA: 1.97 - Sv. %: .934
Regular season leaders: Firebirds
Forward: Dalton Smith - GP: 37 - Goals: 23 - Assists: 31 - Points: 54
Defenceman: Matt LaRochelle - GP: 38 - Goals: 6 - Assists: 22 - Points: 28
Goaltender: Griffin Murphy GP: 22 - Record: 10-10-2 - GAA: 2.80 - Sv. %: .924
(3) Ayr Centennials vs. Norwich Merchants (6)
A year after the Ayr Centennials (25-13-1-1) were swept in the Doherty Division quarterfinals, the team moved up three spots in the standings after a strong regular season to become one of the division’s top seeded teams. The Centennials earned 25 wins in their 40 games and will face sixth-place Norwhich (21-17-2). Just eight points separated these two teams in the regular season standings so it should make for an exciting 3 vs. 6 matchup.
Regular season leaders: Centennials
Forward: Eric Maltby - GP: 38 - Goals: 34 - Assists: 35 - Points: 69
Defenceman: Noah Monteiro - GP: 40 - Goals: 7 - Assists: 33 - Points: 40
Goaltender: Ryan Baux - GP: 27 - Record: 15-10-1 - GAA: 2.95 - Sv. %: .904
Regular season leaders: Merchants
Forward: Jake Luke - GP: 40 - Goals: 40 - Assists: 25 - Points: 65
Defenceman: Alex Sutherland - GP: 36 - Goals: 9 - Assists: 18 - Points: 27
Goaltender: Zach Johnston - GP: 19 - Record: 7-7-1 - GAA: 2.97 - Sv. %: .909
(4) Woodstock Navy Vets vs. Paris Mounties (5)
Five points separated the Woodstock Navy Vets (24-12-2-2) and Paris Mounties (22-15-2-1) in the regular season and now the two teams will battle it out in the first round of the Doherty Division playoffs. Paris made it as far as the Doherty Division semifinals last season and took the Tavistock Braves to seven games. Woodstock never made it out of the first round last season and will be looking to change that this time around.
Regular season leaders: Navy Vets
Forward: Kyle Walker - GP: 37 - Goals: 28 - Assists: 36 - Points: 64
Defenceman: Reade MacInnis - GP: 34 - Goals: 13 - Assists: 39 - Points: 52
Goaltender: Keaghan Brett - GP: 23 - Record: 14-8-1 - GAA: 2.88 - Sv. %: .910
Regular season leaders: Mounties
Forward: Jack Gee - GP: 39 - Goals: 19 - Assists: 17 - Points: 36
Defenceman: Wil Hurley - GP: 37 - Goals: 5 - Assists: 15 - Points: 20
Goaltender: Terin Pennington - GP: 19 - Record: 12-2-0 - GAA: 1.43 - Sv. %: .935
PJHL Playoff Previews
North Conference: Pollock Division
North Conference: Carruthers Division
South Conference: Bloomfield Division
