Coming off another great regular season, the Exeter Hawks are hoping to hit the reset button following a disappointing playoff exit last year.
The Hawks will try to get back to their winning ways under new management, as Jeff Dalrymple steps in as GM and Mark Vandooren goes behind the bench. In another season, the Hawks likely could have been top of the Yeck Division. But a juggernaut Dorchester team ran away with first, not losing a single game all year. Exeter finished with identical 13-7-0 records home and away, as they showed they're just as effective away from the confines of South Huron Rec. The playoffs started well enough, as Exeter dispatched Thamesford in 5 games, but they were then swept by Aylmer. Coach Vandooren says the team, at the time of writing, has really only committed to bringing back all it's over age players, which will help any new faces that enter the fray as the Hawks try to get back to the league title they won in 2015.
Up front, this team has no problems putting up points. Leading scorer Christian Petrozza had 55 points in just 31 games, and he was well supplemented by Max Bannon, 41 points in 34 games, and Jordan Frook, 34 in 36. Liam Melady had 23 points in just 22 games, and you would expect he would return to the fold. As far as new faces, Coach Vandooren says outside of the core of over age guys, they want to leave openings for players to come and show they want the job. Vandooren says he got the sense last year that team discipline and unity were an issue, and he wants to make sure he blends reliable vets with guys that show they want to be an Exeter Hawk.
On the back end, Coach Vandooren says the only player at the time of writing that they're certain is returning is Austin Carter, and what a massive relief that must be. Carter headlined one of the best offensive D units in the PJHL, leading the way for the Hawks with 28 points in 36 games, to go with a whopping 157 penalty minutes. This guy can do it all. You want a physical game in the trenches, or to go all out speed up and down trading chances? Carter can do it whichever way you like, and he'll be a welcome returnee. He also did an apt job running a power play, posting 12 points on the man advantage and even getting a short handed assist. If the team can bring back Ian Vandenheuvel and Austin Elkin, who both had 27 points, the Hawks will be well set up to continue roaming up the ice at will to score, while having the speed and physicality to guard their own end. Even young Jon Baker, an Exeter native, had 17 points in just 11 games,and if he were to return, that would give the Hawks a more than capable back end that can score just as well as they can shut down others.
In the crease, Exeter had the benefit of basically having a 1 and 1A goalie tandem last season. Trevor Fleming had an outstanding campaign between the pipes, starting 25 games with a 16-9-0 record, 4 shutouts, a 2.62 GAA and a .926 save percentage. He has unfortunately aged out, but his "backup", Dane Gubbels, returns to take over as the number one. Gubbels had 19 starts, going 10-5-0 with a 2.66 GAA and .919 save percentage. Pretty sparkling numbers for a backup, and they show he is more than ready to handle the load of being a starter in this league. Joining him will be Stratford native Nathan Young, a promising 17-year-old prospect who will be the understudy to the Hawks over age goalie this season. Young came out of the Huron-Perth Lakers program, and last year played for the Waterloo Wolves in Midget AAA, making 14 starts. He will have the opportunity to spell off Gubbels and play behind a stout D-core that can move the puck away from danger consistently.
For more on the upcoming Exeter Hawks season, listen to new Head Coach Mark Vandooren:
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