The Hanover Barons have come achingly close to winning the Pollock Division the last two years, and are hoping they can finally get over the hump this year.
GM Pete Irwin, who steps into the front office from behind the bench last year, is excited about a great returning roster despite some significant losses from a veteran roster last year.
Those losses are headlined by the departing Riley McCabe, a star goalie that played at an elite level his entire Barons career. He will be hard to replace, as will his competitive spirit. Jonah White, a great two-way player who would grind through every shift and put up 26 points in 28 games, will also be a key loss. Chris Ferri, an awesome two-way defender who was so exciting to watch lug the puck and make plays on the power play, will also depart, and his 27 points will be sorely missed. Also, captain Tyson Lina, a Hanover kid and heart-and-soul Baron, ages out, too, and his consistent intensity and leadership will be hard to replace. That said, Irwin feels he has a team this year that can pick up the slack and then some from the departing guys.
The Barons will benefit greatly from having their leading scorer back in Curtis Arnold, who had 45 points in 39 games, and also led in goals scored with 27 goals. He will continue to be a force at this level, and is good enough to push 35, even 40 plus snipes with a hard, heavy shot that beats goalies clean from anywhere. Also coming back is big, snarly power forward Dylan Richardson, who is big, and plays with ill intent, forechecking opposing defenders into the end walls, and providing points, too, amassing 28 in 39 games. Ryan Goetz, who had 30 points in 41 games, is a smaller player but a guy who can absolutely fly and dangle, and despite his stature, he never backs down from a battle. He can easily be a point-per-game player. Spencer Davidson, a hard checking forward who can play in any situation, also comes back and looks to build on his 16 point outing. This year's captain, Ryan Colquhoun, will also be a big offensive weapon after 35 points in 39 games. Colquhoun is a Mr. Everything for Hanover, bringing an impact at even strength, special teams, up a goal, needing a goal, he can always do something to tilt the ice in Hanover's favour. GM Irwin says he's "noticed a big change in Ryan, he's become a real leader on and off the ice." The Barons have some exciting new faces, too, including two huge signings. Patrick Brown, an imposing power forward who scored 24 goals to lead the Listowel Cyclones last year, joins up, alongside fellow Jr. B standout Kyle Maloney, who was outstanding for the Cambridge Redhawks last year, scoring 60 points. This this will again be a loaded veteran club looking to finally break through.
On the defence, same story. Second leading scorer and top offensive defender, Payton McIsaac, is back to lead the back end after an excellent 41 points in 41 games. 20 of his points came with the man advantage, and few are better at this level at quarterbacking a PP. He is joined by Drayton Howell, coming off a 16 point campaign, who played solid D last year for the second best defence in the division, helping to allow just 105 goals against. Cam Angst, who came in last year from Jr. B Listowel, will bring back his great skating and board work. A rookie last year, Wyatt Cayley, had some looks at Jr. B camps himself this summer, and he will return. GM Irwin called him "one of our pleasant surprises" at camp after being named the most improved Baron last year. He is expected to take a big leap forward. New this year is Brody Verbeek out of the Guelph AAA Minor Hockey program, a player the Barons scouted last spring who has great offensive instincts for a young player.
In goal, despite the loss of McCabe, his backup of the last two years, Lander Hartley, has been marinating and waiting for his chance to take the reins. He gets that chance this year, proving last year he's more than ready following a record of 7-5-0-1, a 3.04 GAA and .896 save percentage. He also posted a pair of shutouts, and his play in the playoffs last year in relief of McCabe likely was the catalyst in showing the Barons he was ready to make this his crease, as he put forth some stellar performances. Backing him up will be Max Wright from the Dundas Blues. Wright has Tier 2 Jr. A and Jr. B experience, and he will serve as a more than capable backup for a rock solid Barons team.
The Barons have been oh so close to becoming champions, and this year, the mission remains the same. Cup or bust. It will be a lot of fun seeing if this is the year that some silverware and a banner gets added to the P & H Centre.
For a full interview with Hanover Barons GM Pete Irwin, click here courtesy of the Instigating with Clarkey and Drury show:
