COVID-19 thrust the entire sports world into maybe the most challenging time it's ever faced.
That includes junior hockey, were the pandemic's uncertainty caused a massive challenge for teams looking to sign players, make trades and secure a roster for a season that still may never happen. The Hanover Barons are among the junior fraternity and have had to ride the wave of ups and downs. Despite that, the Barons made some significant adjustments to their roster.
Barons GM Zach Leslie says they are looking forward to the tentative start date of December 1st for the PJHL season. The Barons have been creeping up the Pollock Division standings the last few years after a rebuilding period saw them near the bottom of the heap. Bobby Kirby returns for his 3rd year as head coach, and his calming influence and ability to reach young players have helped the Barons drastically improve.
Hanover finished in 4th place last season as they look to continue their surge up the standings. Hanover had the 4th best offense with 156 goals scored, and just 135 surrendered, giving them a positive goal differential of 21. The Barons took the third most penalties in the division, and that will hopefully improve with a more mature roster. Losing their best player and goalie Brendon Landry will hurt, but Leslie is confident in some of the younger goalies they have scouted. Zack Cameron led the team in scoring last year with 58 points, followed by Luke Hoelscher's 49. The team hasn't announced that either are back as of yet, but they have confirmed that 3rd scorer Ryan Marriage, who had 32 points, will come back, and he'll have help. Hanover pulled off a big trade with Goderich in the off-season, trading young star centre Mark Aljoe and veteran defender Quinton Maddock to Goderich for young scoring star Jeff Fritzley, who popped 34 points in last season.
The Barons also signed young defender Nolan Ritchie from the Grey-Bruce Highlanders, someone who Leslie is very high on. They then signed 3 Hanover Minor Hockey prospects, who all played for the Sacred Heart High School OFSAA champions and CWOSSA finalists. Caden Prues, Ryan Calhoun and Darcy Burgess will all have opportunities to make immediate impacts. Finally, they added another Sacred Heart Crusader to the lineup, signing defender Eric Black, who Leslie says can skate well and make great first passes.
It should be another great season in Hanover should a season occur, with the team well poised to crack the top 3 in the Pollock Division. For more on the Barons upcoming season, here is the full length interview with GM Zach Leslie:
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