Another year, another title in Mount Forest.
The Mount Forest Patriots stole back their Pollock Division crown from the Mitchell Hawks last year, and have now won 4 of the last 6 titles. That could have been 5, had a little thing called COVID not come around and ended a 2020 final with Wingham that was tied 1-1 at the time. This franchise has built a consistent and impressive culture of winning, and new GM Josh Kiel, who helped orchestrate that Mitchell title, has come in to take over the team and hopefully lead them back to the promised land. A new coaching staff, full of former Pats, also comes in, led by Zac Coulter alongside Troy Weber and Dean Nixon, who join long-time bench member Mike Orr.
In terms of losses, they are significant. Leading scorer Elijah Brahaney, who exploded for 77 points last year including a team leading 36 goals, is aged out. Captain Riley Torrie, who has stepped into the Assistant GM role to Kiel, is also gone, but not truly, as he will still be around to offer his intense leadership and insight. Dylan Szymanowski, who tied for second in team scoring with 67 points as a rookie, has graduated to the Listowel Cyclones. His brother, Tristan, is also gone, alongside his goalie battery mate Vance Meyer, who was traded to Walkerton as an OA. Also, with an asterisk, Caleb Cribbin (who I called Riley about a hundred times last year, sorry Caleb), won't be back, at least right now. GM Kiel says Cribbin has accumulated too many injuries and isn't certain he wants to play, but, IF that changes, there's a slight chance we maybe see him later. If he doesn't come back, there's another 67 points that need replaced, as well as some of the most magical hands in the league. Bryan Richardson, an OA last year, also departs after a great 36 point effort. Plenty of significant losses here, but, there's a ton of great returning talent and significant new faces.
Returning to headline the offence that led the division with 201 goals and a plus-71 goal differential is this year's captain, Brody LeBlanc. A player with plenty of experience at higher levels, LeBlanc came in late last year and put up an astonishing 31 points in 13 games. He was even more electric in the playoffs. When someone has a 2.38 PPG at this level, it's not about stopping them, it's about mitigating the damage. Best of luck to defenders out there, as LeBlanc possesses an enviable combo of speed, edge work, hands, and a bullet shot. He is the favourite to lead potentially this whole league in scoring. Jordan Leitch, who will step into a more significant role, will also return and build on his 29 point outing last year. A gritty forward who can drive the other team's top line crazy, Leitch is as good a two-way player as you can hope to find, and he routinely throws his body in harm's way. A new face is Will Lewis out of Jr. B Ayr, who had 16 points in 46 games in the GOJHL last year. He comes in with a chance to be an offensive headliner on a potent power play with his speed and net drive. Matthew Weiler, another returnee, had 22 points last year and will also enjoy increased ice time to show of his great hands in tight areas. There are some new Grey Bruce Highlanders and minor hockey pickups that GM Kiel is excited about, too, but this is again a team thriving with veteran offensive weapons that are hellbent on keeping the title in Wellington North.
On the blue line, another standout returning cast comes back, including leading defensive scorer Austin Griffin, who had 32 points in 35 games, and he will continue to quarterback the PP, a unit on which he provided 18 points last year. He's a quick skater with great hockey sense and can feather passes all over the ice. He will be rejoined by Charlie McKenzie and Aaron McGuirk, who each had 12 points last year and will both get plenty more ice. McKenzie is another PP specialist with a booming shot, and McGuirk is more of a defensive specialist who can punish you physically. Aidan Doig returns to vadd much needed depth and defensive acumen, along with Cam Voisin, a rookie last year who will get plenty of chances to improve on an 8 point outing. Joseph Weiler also comes back, after featuring in only 3 games last year to play with brother Matthew. This is a deep and diverse top 6.
As mentioned earlier, both goalies from last year aren't back, which left GM Kiel with a lot of work to do. They're very excited about 17-year-old Durham native Nolan Brown, a Hanover U18 product who was an AP for the Grey Bruce Highlanders. Kiel thinks he can be an elite goalie now and in the future, and he will benefit from a tight defensive team in front of him. The Patriots also signed, the night before this article comes out, Michael Purkhart. The 6'4" 17-year-old comes from the North Bay Trappers U18 program and has some NOJHL Jr. A experience, and Kiel thinks he can compete for a lot of starts with his size and excellent mechanics.
The Patriots are used to being defending champs. Despite some high profile losses, they return arguably the deepest offensive core in the division and have retooled with young promising players, especially in net. Bet against them repeating at your peril.
For a full interview with Mount Forest Patriots GM Josh Kiel, click below courtesy of the Instigating with Clarkey and Drury show: