WEEK IN REVIEW - JAN. 15
By: Chris McLachlin, OHA Media
Photo: Blenheim Blades
With only a few weeks left in the regular season, very little has been decided for playoff positioning across the PJHL. The Stayner Siskins are the only top seed to have clinched their Division, as the Siskins have secured top spot in the Carruthers. The craziest race continues to be the battle for first place in the Stobbs Division with the top FIVE teams separated by just three points into the final three weeks of play.
SPECIAL TEAMS - PP%
1. 39.07% - Glanbrook Rangers
2. 30.00% - Alliston Hornets
3. 28.26% - Tavistock Braves
SPECIAL TEAMS - PK%
1. 91.82% - Clarington Eagles
2. 91.67% - Exeter Hawks
3. 91.08% - Stayner Siskins
Click here for full PJHL Special Teams stats
WEST CONFERENCE: STOBBS DIVISION
The Stobbs Division regular season wraps up in three weeks and it’s crowded at the top! With Essex (49), Amherstburg (48), Lakeshore (47), Mooretown (46), and Dresden (46) all within three points, the Stobbs is in for a wild finish to the regular season. Essex leads, but of the five teams, they have struggled the most in the past 10 games going 5-4-0-1. After the top five teams, the Petrolia Flyers (37) are safely in the sixth spot, while the Blenheim Blades (26) and Wheatley Sharks (24) will battle for seventh and eighth. The game on Sunday, January 28 in Blenheim might decide which team finishes higher in the standings. The Wallaceburg Lakers (6) are in ninth and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Brett Farr (Mooretown) vs Wheatley Jan. 8, Connor Rasaasen (Lakeshore) vs Wallaceburg Jan. 10, Ryan Lyle (Mooretown) vs Blenheim Jan. 14
Assists: 4 - Joe Stock (Mooretown) vs Wheatley Jan. 8
Points: 4 - Joe Stock (4A) (Mooretown) vs Wheatley Jan. 8, Connor Rasaasen (3G, 1A) (Lakeshore) vs Wallaceburg Jan. 10
Saves: 46 - Ben Larder (W) (Amherstburg) vs Mooretown Jan. 13
Shutout: 11 SV - Jax D’Hondt (Essex) vs Wallaceburg Jan. 9
WEST CONFERENCE: YECK DIVISION
The Yeck Division regular season wraps up on Sunday, February 4 and with just three weeks left, every spot is still up for grabs. The Lambeth Lancers (54) continue to lead, with the Exeter Hawks (51) sticking close and the Dorchester Dolphins (49) are still in the mix but have played the most games in the top group. The North Middlesex Stars (38) are eight points ahead of the Thamesford Trojans (30) for fourth, as the Stars knocked off the Dolphins last week 7-3. The Mt. Brydges Bulldogs (25) and Port Stanley Sailors (25) are deadlocked for sixth and both teams have 10 games left on their schedules. The Aylmer Spitfires (20) are still hoping to catch Mt. Brydges and Port Stanley but they are 12 points ahead of the Lucan Irish (8) for the eighth and final playoff position in the Yeck Division, but even that spot is not yet clinched.
Top Performances
Goals: 4 - Christian Petrozza (Exeter) vs Lucan Jan. 13
Assists: 3 - Keith Arnold (Lambeth) vs Aylmer Jan. 10, Jonah Goodman (Lambeth) vs Aylmer Jan. 10, Carson Esipu (Lambeth) vs Port Stanley Jan. 13
Points: 5 - Jonah Goodman (2G, 3A) (Lambeth) vs Aylmer Jan. 10
Saves: 49 - Liam McCarthy (L) (North Middlesex) vs Lambeth Jan. 14
EAST CONFERENCE: ORR DIVISION
With just three weeks left in the PJHL Orr Division regular season schedule the Lakefield Chiefs have increased their lead on top to three points after extending their winning streak to 10 games. Port Perry trails Lakefield by three points, but they are now 10 points ahead of the Clarington Eagles for second as Clarington and Uxbridge seem destined to battle for third. Uxbridge is currently three points behind Clarington. After Lakefield, who is the next hottest team in the Orr Division? The Georgina Ice, winners of four straight, including a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over Uxbridge on Sunday. All seven teams will make the playoffs this year with a bye available in the first round for one of the top teams.
Top Performances
Goals: 4 - Josh Dickson (Port Perry) vs Little Britain Jan. 14
Assists: 4 - Tarren Jank (Lakefield) vs North Kawartha Jan. 9
Points: 5 - Josh Dickson (4G, 1A) (Port Perry) vs Little Britain Jan. 14
Saves: 75 - Brett Chandler (L) (Little Britain) vs Port Perry Jan. 14
Shutout: 20 SV - Brandon Soucy (Clarington) vs Little Britain Jan. 11
EAST CONFERENCE: TOD DIVISION
With the Tod Division regular season set to wrap up on Thursday, February 15, three of the four playoff spots have been secured and the Amherstview Jets have a strong hold on the fourth and final spot. The Gananoque Islanders, who trail the Jets by 19 points have 11 games left, while Amherstview only has seven games left, however the Islanders would need a lot of help and would need a very hot streak to end the season to reach the playoffs. At the top, Napanee has won 11 straight, their second double digit winning streak of the season and the Raiders hold an 11 point advantage over second place Port Hope.
Top Performances
Goals: 2 - Jake Campbell (Napanee) vs Picton Jan. 11, Auston Labelle (Napanee) vs Picton Jan. 11, Keegan Wayte (Gananoque) vs Campbellford Jan. 13, Nick Maillett (Gananoque) vs Campbellford Jan. 13, Cameron Harris (Port Hope) vs Gananoque Jan. 14
Assists: 4 - Ryan Casselman (Napanee) vs Picton Jan. 11
Points: 4 - Ryan Casselman (4A) (Napanee) vs Picton Jan. 11, Auston Labelle (2G, 2A) (Napanee) vs Picton Jan. 11, Cameron Harris (2G, 2A) (Port Hope) vs Gananoque Jan. 14
Saves: 39 - Alexel Masanko (W) (Amherstview) vs Picton Jan. 14
Shutout: 17 SV - Nicholas Nabuurs (Napanee) vs Picton Jan. 11
NORTH CONFERENCE: CARRUTHERS DIVISION
The end of the Carruthers Division regular season is just two weeks away and teams have 4-6 games left, all eight teams will make the playoffs. The Stayner Siskins have clinched first place and the Alliston Hornets just need a single point to clinch second, but behind the top two there’s still a lot to be decided. The best battle is for third place between the Penetang Kings and Caledon Golden Hawks. Penetang currently holds third with a one point cushion over Caledon. The teams have two games left between them as Caledon plays in Penetang this Friday and the teams play their final games of the season against each other in Caledon on Sunday, January 28. This race will likely come down to the final game of the season!
Player of the Month - December 2017
Will Redick, Penetang Kings
Top Performances
Goals: 2 - Cody Jones (Huntsville) vs Schomberg Jan. 10, Nathan Delarosbil (Huntsville) vs Schomberg Jan. 10, Jordan Taylor (Stayner) vs Midland Jan. 11, Matt Magliozzi (Caledon) vs Midland Jan. 14
Assists: 3 - Ben Hughes (Stayner) vs Midland Jan. 11, Liam Kendall (Stayner) vs Midland Jan. 11, Marc Simonetta (Caledon) vs Midland Jan. 14, Everett Flewelling (Caledon) vs Midland Jan. 14, Luke Charlebois (Orillia) vs Mitchell Jan. 14
Points: 4 - Ben Hughes (1G, 3A) (Stayner) vs Midland Jan. 11, Jordan Taylor (2G, 2A) (Stayner) vs Midland Jan. 11, Marc Simonetta (1G, 3A) (Caledon) vs Midland Jan. 14
Saves: 57 - Derek Haourt (L) (Orillia) vs Schomberg Jan. 11
NORTH CONFERENCE: POLLOCK DIVISION
The Pollock Division regular season ends on Sunday, January 28 and the Mount Forest Patriots are close to clinching first place. Mount Forest has 55 points and five games left and holds a seven point lead over the Walkerton Hawks, who have 48 points and also have five games remaining. Kincardine and Wingham are tied for third with 44 points and Mitchell is just two points behind in fifth position. There is another tie at the bottom of the standings between Goderich and Hanover as both clubs have 15 points, Goderich has one more game remaining on their schedule and the two teams will play in Hanover on January 26 in a game that might decide sixth and seventh place. All seven teams make the playoffs, with a first round bye for one of the top teams.
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Gary Mantz (Walkerton) vs Goderich Jan. 10
Assists: 3 - Blake Pickering (Mitchell) vs Wingham Jan. 10, Jamie Huber (Wingham) vs Goderich Jan. 13, Matt Bean (Goderich) vs Wingham Jan. 13, Carter Collinson (Wingham) vs Kincardine Jan. 14
Points: 5 - Gary Mantz (3G, 2A) (Walkerton) vs Goderich Jan. 10
Saves: 41 - Tyler Parr (W) (Mitchell) vs Wingham Jan. 10
SOUTH CONFERENCE: BLOOMFIELD DIVISION
All eight teams in the Bloomfield Division make the playoffs and with the end of the regular season just three weeks away almost every spot is still up for grabs. At the top the Glanbrook Rangers lead the Grimsby Peach Kings by five points; however Grimsby has one game in hand. These two clubs square off on Friday night in Grimsby in what might be a must-win for the Peach Kings if they want to catch the Rangers for first place. The Dundas Blues hold third spot with 42 points, a two point advantage over the Port Dover Sailors, but Port Dover has three games in hand. The next three teams will be battling for fifth through seventh; Hagersville currently holds fifth with 28 points and Dunnville is just two points back, with Niagara another three points behind them. Simcoe has 10 points in eighth place and with just six games left on their schedule they can’t catch the teams above them and will play the top seed in the first round of playoffs.
Players of the Month - December 2017
Goaltender: Jamie Ferguson, Hagersville Hawks
Defenseman: Carter Leroux, Niagara RiverHawks
Forward: Brady Cranwell, Grimsby Peach Kings
Top Performances
Goals: 3 - Brady Cranwell (Grimsby) vs Dunnville Jan. 12, Tyler Miket (Simcoe) vs Niagara Jan. 14
Assists: 4 - Connor Maitz (Glanbrook) vs Simcoe Jan. 10, London Murray (Grimsby) vs Dunnville Jan. 14
Points: 6 - Connor Maitz (2G, 4A) (Glanbrook) vs Simcoe Jan. 10
Saves: 43 - Gavin McLeod (W) (Simcoe) vs Niagara Jan. 14
Shutout: 29 SV - Mitchell Robinson (Glanbrook) vs Simcoe Jan. 10
SOUTH CONFERENCE: DOHERTY DIVISION
Just two very busy weeks left in the Doherty Division regular season and there’s not a single position clinched. At the top, Ayr (58), Tavistock (57) and Woodstock (55) will decide the top three spots. The battle for the fourth spot and final first round home-ice position is between the Paris Mounties (45) and Wellesley Applejacks (42). Behind them, the Norwich Merchants (33) and New Hamburg Firebirds are still jockeying for sixth and seventh, while Burford is likely to claim the eighth and final playoff spot unless the Delhi Travellers manage to win three of their last seven games, two of which are head to head with Burford.
Player of the Month - December 2017
Blake Pow, Norwich Merchants
Top Performances
Goals: 4 - Dylan Wettlaufer (Woodstock) vs Wellesley Jan. 13, Brett Wilson (Paris) vs Burford Jan. 14
Assists: 5 - Austin Sine (Woodstock) vs Burford Jan. 9
Points: 8 - Brett Wilson (4G, 4A) (Paris) vs Burford Jan. 14
Saves: 57 - Eric Chant (L) (Burford) vs Woodstock Jan. 9
Shutout: 46 SV - Davis McLean (Paris) vs Burford Jan. 14
This Week: 70 games
(The PJHL Week in Review is posted on Mondays during the 2017-18 PJHL regular season.)
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