A dream years in the making finally came to fruition for the Hanover Barons last year.
First in the Pollock Division standings with 74 points. An 18 game point streak to end the year. But most importantly, after finishing runner up the last couple seasons, a Pollock Division title, followed by the deepest Schmalz Cup run by a Pollock team since the Wingham Ironmen more than a decade ago. It truly was a special year in Barons country, and the team doesn't plan on handing that trophy over anytime soon.
The Barons will be led again by the coaching staff from last year's championship, with Head Coach Brady Anderson flanked by Brenden Clayton and Bobby Kirby. Despite some losses on the roster from last year, the team looks poised again to make another run at potentially getting the the division final, and this time, defending the title.
Key losses include Patrick Brown, who's 66 points were second only to leading scorer Kyle Maloney. Brown is a big physical presence and his net front power play acumen will be missed after he was dealt to Walkerton. Payton McIsaac and Cam Angst, the towers of power on the Baron's back end, will both be sorely missed. McIsaac's two-way threat (42 points) and Angst's tireless physical play and work ethic will be hard to replace. Also not returning is Arthur native Ryan Goetz, a 5-year Barons legend who may not have been the biggest in size, but played like a monster. Another over-ager is Joey Stimac, who only got into 13 regular season games but became a huge forechecker and leader in the room. Also, critically, rookie standout Aaron Dukeshire won't be back. He will be in Blind River of the NOJHL Tier 2 Jr. A league, as his talent that was flashed as a 16-year-old was only going to propel him to another level.
Despite those losses, the Barons are bringing back a cast of veterans and new players that the team feels will help them defend that coveted Pollock title.
Up front, captain Ryan Colqhoun is back to bring heart and soul to a group that built itself on that last season. His 45 points and excellent two-way game will briing back some needed fire. Leading scorer Kyle Maloney returns after an excellent 68 point campaign. He proved he was one of the best players at generating offense in the league, and his return is huge for the Barons. Leading goal scorer Curtis Arnold also returns, looking to improve on a 39-goal output that included plenty of highlight reel moments. Also back is former Rookie of the Year, Alex McGillivray, who returned to the group last season from Jr. B Listowel, and is also a very talented baseball player. McGillivray scored a whopping 37 points in his 21 Barons games, and could easily lead this team in scoring with a lethal shot and soft mitts. Rookie Austin Farlow, who scored one of the biggest goals in team history with the Game 6 OT winner to force game 7 against Mount Forest, also returns and will get plenty of chances to improve on his 13 points.
Additionally, the team signed Centennial Cup champions Mark McIntosh and Sam Barrett, key contributors to the Tier 2 Jr. A OJHL champion Collingwood Blues. Those two represent massive injections of offensive capability, with McIntosh scoring 28 goals and 60 points in Jr. A last year and Barrett put up 23 points further down the lineup. He will get an opportunity to log top-6 minutes in Hanover and add to an already formidable attack.
On the back end, new addition Danny Scott from the Sutherland Cup champion Listowel Cyclones is a huge signing and he'll jump right into the top pair for the Barons. Scott brings a nasty edge and stout defensive play that any championship squad needs. One timer artist Drayton Howell, with one of the heaviest shots in the league, is also set to return after a 26 point season, including numerous PP rockets. Talen Brown, a rookie addition and local kid, is set to jump into the lineup, and GM Pete Irwin says the kid they call "Ted" has some serious upside. The rest of the roster still needs a bit of filling out as of yet, but Hanover looks to have another great D core shaping up.
In net, playoff hero Derek Hartley returns after putting together one of the best goalie runs in a long time through the playoffs. Hartley split time with his brother Lander, who also played excellent for the Barons, but Derek took the ball in the post season that saw him go 16-7-3 with a 1.95 GAA and .934 save percentage to go with 4 shutouts. That's brick wall stuff. Lander, the older of the two, is currently skating with the team and is a highly likely returnee for his OA year. Lander went 20-2-0-1 in the regular season with a 2.04 GAA and .927 save percentage with a pair of goose eggs himself. I don't know what they're feeding these brothers in the Hartley household, but whatever they're doing, they could open a goalie school.
The Barons look like a tough team to knock off their throne. The roster is laden with talent again, and they should be right there battling for another Pollock title.
Hanover opens their season on the road on September 14 in Mitchell at 7:15 p.m., followed by a trip to Fergus on September 15 at 3 p.m. They will host their home opener and banner raising September 20 against Kincardine at 8 p.m.
For a full breakdown of the Baron's upcoming season, check out the full interview with GM Pete Irwin here, courtesy of Instigating with Clarkey and Drury: