The 2017-18 season offered an opportunity for big improvement, an opportunity the Wingham Ironmen seized with both hands.
The Ironmen made their biggest strides offensively, something sorely needed after a division low 87 goals the year prior. With the return of veteran leader Jamie Huber and the progression of a number of young players, the Ironmen exploded for 158 goals last year, and a 5th place finish, tied with Mitchell on 48 points, just losing out on regulation wins. This year, the Ironmen look like a dangerous team on the rise, returning nearly all their key players and making some noise in the off-season in the form of player additions. Under newly-minted GM Andy "Chum" McAskil, formerly of the Hanover Barons, the team looks to solidify themselves as contenders in the Pollock Division.
Offensively, the Ironmen are set to improve even further on last year's totals. Veteran and captain Huber will return for his OA season after leading the team in scoring (63 points) and providing the offensive punch and leadership the young team needed. Joining Huber will be a majority of returning players. Rookie of the Year Kyle Stanbury (37 points), Logan Toltan (37 points), Josh Higgins (26 points), another rookie from last year Parker Gibbings (17 points), as well as new additions in Matt Toltan, Tanner Reid, local boy Josiah Kraayenbrink and an exciting import from PEI Jr. C, Dawson Sellick. GM Chum McAskil had been working on signing Sellick earlier this summer, and was excited to finally nail down his player card in mid-August. Sellick put up 33 goals and 53 points last year for the Tignish Aces in PEI Jr. C, and then put up 10 points in 10 playoff games. McAskil believes Sellick can add another element to his talented young team, namely in the form of filling Pollock Division nets. If everything comes together quickly, this is a group that might have the best offense in the division.
On the back end, the Ironmen will again be thrilled to have the services of last year's Best Defenceman, Carter Collinson. There is no blueliner in the division that's as offensively talented, and Collinson is extremely skilled at running a power play. He piled up 40 points, including 27 on the man advantage to make up nearly three quarters of his point total. Collinson can at times be guilty of leaving his ownzone too early or trying to do too much, but there's no one better at rushing a puck with his Karlsson-like approach. Also back on the blue line is stable veteran Kyle Langlois (23 points), who can also provide offensive punch, but can take care of his own end and prefers to focus on that first. New additions include Ryan Litt from Palmerston, who McAskil describes as a physical and hard nosed defender, something the Ironmen could use after being leaky at times on the back end giving up 150 goals.
In the crease, Jamie Brock will return to provide a steady veteran presence for the Ironmen. Brock took on the bulk of the workload last year, and in 22 starts put up a 12-6-0-1 record, with a .888 save percentage and a 3.43 GAA. Brock can handle a bigger workload this year and he may need to, as reliable second option Wyatt Nicholson has opted to take a year off to focus on school. At the time of writing, Wingham hadn't yet settled on a solid second option, but they can at least take comfort in the fact that Brock won't need any sort of adjustment period. He's a reliable starter that can put up much better totals with an improved crew in front of him.
For more on the upcoming Wingham Ironmen season, here's the full length interview with GM Andy "Chum" McAskil:
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