Hail to the Whale. At least, that's what the new Fergus Whalers are hoping fans will do in their first ever season.
The new team, which will expand the Pollock Division to an even 8, is excited to commence their first ever season and prove they're more of a Vegas and less like an Atlanta. Owner, President and Director of Hockey Ops, Jason Baier, says they want to compete right away. Based on the team they've put together so far, they just might do that.
The team's staff features GM Craig Dool, who has a coaching background with Guelph Minor Hockey and the old Fergus Devils Jr. C team. Head Coach Ryan Black was a draft pick of the New Jersey Devils in 1992 and had a lengthy OHL career, and has been in the local minor hockey scene for years. His staff on the bench includes Randy Coverdale, Mark Martin and Jeff Hoelscher.
There's no need to review who the team lost, so we can get right into their roster.
Up front, the team made a marquee signing in former OHLer Ty Aselmini. He played for Mississauga and the Soo Greyhounds, before heading to the Jr. A Collingwood Blues. Last year he was in the GOJHL with Cambridge, putting up 28 points in 28 games. He can fly, and should be an offensive focal point for Fergus. Joining him is former Walkerton Capital Jett Morningstar, acquired in a trade. He had 27 points in 31 games last year as the Cap's captain, and will add more veteran savvy to the lineup. Another huge forward that will lead the team is newly minted captain Jack Macdonald, who had 40 points in 34 games for PJHL Exeter last year. A local kid, he hopes to lead this team to a successful first season. Another former Walkerton player, JJ Lavigne, will bring his steady two-way play, after a 22 point year and earning the PJHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player award.
On the blue line, Fergus has high hopes for former AAA Halton Hurricane, Eric Henderson. President Baier says Henderson can really skate and lug the puck, and will be looked to out of the gate to create some offence. Ditto for local kid Ryan McDougall, who impressed last year with the U18 Guelph Gryphons. In terms of veterans, they brought in former Walkerton Capital Ryan Oakes, a big, rangy kid who can lay the body and had 6 points in 19 games last year for Walkerton. Many young local players will factor into the lineup, something Baier says was important to establish right away.
In goal, Fergus will have a motivated veteran netminder right away, as Bradley Boville comes over from the Mitchell Hawks in a trade. Boville backed up Tyler Parr during the Mitchell Hawks 2022 Pollock Division title run, which President Baier was a part of, getting a first hand look at the potential of Boville. He split last season between GOJHL Thorold and Mitchell, and in the 9 games he appeared for the Hawks, he posted a brilliant .946 save percentage and a 1.87 GAA with a pair of shutouts. Baier thinks it's time the veteran gets to take the full-time starter reigns of a team, and Fergus is going to give him the chance to do just that. Backing him up is promising youngster Jacon McKenney, a Toronto native who played in the Toronto Victoria Village Select program as a youth.
When a new franchise comes into any league, we've been almost trained to expect them to struggle. But in recent memory, at the pro level, we've seen hockey teams buck that trend. The Vegas Golden Knights went to a Cup Final in their first year, Seattle made a ton of noise in year 2 and those aforementioned Knights happen to be the defending NHL champs. We're not saying Fergus will do that, however, there is a ton of quality in their initial roster that should have Fergus fans excited to have Jr. C hockey back in town. Plus, the logo, a take on the classic Hartford Whalers, is gorgeous.
For a full interview with Whalers President Jason Baier, click here courtesy of the Instigating with Clarkey and Drury podcast:
