The Provincial Junior Hockey League's (PJHL) Pollock Division took an unexpected turn this weekend, with several surprising results bringing the division's early-season parity into focus.
The most notable outcome was the Goderich Flyers' 7-5 victory over the defending champion Hanover Barons on Saturday, September 28, 2024. This marked Hanover’s first loss of the season, and it came just a night after the Barons had dominated Mount Forest 11-2 on home ice.
John Kolias, who does play by play for PJHL games on CKNX 920, weighed in on the Flyers' performance.
"If anyone thinks they're going to walk into Goderich and it's gonna be an easy game, they've got another thing coming. Todd Norman has that team playing well. They work hard," he said.
The loss to Goderich was the first time Hanover dropped a regular season game in regulation since a 3-2 defeat against Mount Forest on December 22, 2023.
Goderich’s win was powered by Luke Eurig, whose power-play goal was the difference maker, and an empty-net goal by Gavin Downs sealed the game. It was a well-earned victory for a team that gave Mount Forest all they could handle just a day later.
"They played well at home, but they played even better against Hanover on Saturday night," added Kolias. "They're a well-coached team, and any team has to be ready."
The defeat serves as a wake-up call for the defending Pollock Division champions, who last year advanced deeper into the Clarence Schmaltz Cup tournament than usual for Pollock champs, making it to the Final Four before losing to the Clarington Eagles. Kolias noted that Barons’ coach Brady Anderson may be using this early loss as a teachable moment: "If you think you can come to the rink on any given night and they're just going to give you a win, you've got another thing coming."
Wingham Ironmen Fight Hard but Fall to Patriots
The Wingham Ironmen entered Saturday night’s game against the Mount Forest Patriots with a perfect 5-0 record. In what turned out to be a nail-biter, Wingham’s hard work almost led to a comeback after trailing 7-4 with just two minutes left. However, despite Dawson Smith’s persistence and a flurry of late-game offense, the Patriots held on for a 7-6 win.
Kolias, who watched the game closely, remarked on Wingham’s gritty performance.
"They have some more offense in the lineup with the addition of Tanner Dietz, but they work hard. Couple bounces, they win that game," he said.
Fergus Whalers on the Rise
Another team making waves this weekend was the Fergus Whalers. They picked up two key wins, defeating Mitchell 5-3 on Saturday and Walkerton 5-1 on Sunday. The Whalers' strong performance has them climbing the standings, tied with Wingham for second place with 10 points, as they look to solidify themselves as a top contender in the Pollock Division.
Standings After the Weekend
After the weekend’s action, the Mount Forest Patriots hold the top spot in the division with 10 points and a 5-1 record. Wingham and Fergus are close behind with 10 points each, though the Ironmen have played one less game. Hanover, after their loss to Goderich, sits in fourth place with 9 points.
Here are the current standings:
Mount Forest Patriots (5-1-0-1) – 10 points
Wingham Ironmen (5-1-0-0) – 10 points
Fergus Whalers (5-1-0-0) – 10 points
Hanover Barons (4-1-0-1) – 9 points
Mitchell Hawks (3-3-0-0) – 6 points
Goderich Flyers (2-4-0-0) – 4 points
Walkerton Capitals (1-6-0-0) – 2 points
Kincardine Bulldogs (0-5-1-0) – 1 point
Kolias emphasized the growing parity in the Pollock Division, noting that no game is a given. "Patriots, Barons, Whalers, Ironmen, the parity...Every night is going to be hard work. Then you get Goderich, Walkerton, Mitchell, Kincardine...never an easy win," he said.