What does a team do after climbing the mountain and becoming league champions? For the Kincardine Bulldogs, the hope is rinse, and repeat.
After a stellar regular season that saw the Western Junior C champs amass a 25-10-1 record, the Bulldogs rolled through the playoffs and knocked off perennial title favourites the Walkerton Hawks to become Western Junior C winners. A points haul of 51 was only 4 back of the Hawks for the regular season crown, and there's plenty of room for optimism for a repeat performance says Assistant Coach Shawn Burrows.
Up front, arguably no team in the circuit has lost more than the Bulldogs, as all 4 top point getters are gone, albeit 2 of those were D-men. The loss of top scorer Patrick Wiejack, with 38 points, and Gerrit Satosek to the age limit will no doubt hurt. Satosek was the team's captain and a solid two way player. But Burrows says there's loads of talent still around. Brett Burrows had 22 points last year as a 17-year-old, and along with Shane Vollmer who had 25, there is still lots to like about a young and hungry forward group. Jordan Bell and Brady Richards can also offer more and build on their seasons from last year, as well. Typically, when a team tastes success, they want more, so there shouldn't be any worry about the Bulldogs scoring punch.
On D, there will be heavy shoes, or skates rather, to fill as Matthew Mah, who had 31 points, and assistant captain Gerrit Satosek, 28 points, are both gone. Eric Langridge, who played a lot with Mah, is making the jump to the London Nationals of the GOJHL. And Dan Skinner also departs for Junior B, but with Listowel, but Mike Osadca will take a big step forward, and 20-year-old late addition Robert White will help. White played 6 games last year and had 4 points, so there's reason to believe over a full campaign he can re-inject the offense left behind by Mah, Satosek, and Skinner. Hunter Robbins-Gibbons is also likely to return, and Assistant Coach Burrows says there are some standouts in camp that could be hungry to play for a championship team.
In the crease, the situation is a little more uncertain for the champs. Last year's 21-game-starter Jacob Hutchings has moved on to North York, and the Bulldogs have AP player from last year Craig Luinstra signed to take over. There are no other goalies signed as of yet, though some camp attendees have impressed, says Burrows. Luinstra starred for the Grey-Bruce Highlnaders last year and is an athletic, young, capable talent, something Kincardine will need to try and repeat as Western Junior C champs.
For more on the Bulldogs upcoming campaign, here's the full-length talk with Assistant Coach Shawn Burrows:
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