Last year, the Walkerton Hawks went through a strange up-and-down campaign and still managed the league final, falling to the Mount Forest Patriots a second straight time.
This year, the Hawks are hoping that a far better bill of health, and a renewed focus and commitment from the whole organization will vault them back to the top of the Pollock Division mountain. There were plenty of nights last season where the Hawks could barely ice a respectable lineup, with so many injuries, school and work commitments, and other internal issues. It speaks volumes about the raw talent the group and and still has that they were able to claw their way to second place with 53 points, and make the league final again. GM Steve Barrett says the sole focus this year is to get back to the familiar level that Walkerton has enjoyed for a long time. Under new Head Coach Jordan Turcotte, Walkerton will be looking for a more consistent message and a renewed sense of desire from their talented core of players.
In terms of scoring, the Hawks should be just fine. All 4 of their top scorers are back, with the skilled and slippery Gary Mantz leading the way (45 points). Spencer Elder (43 points), Captain Justin Donnelly (43 points) and Adel Zivojevic (28 points) all return. Elder is a two-way scoring threat with a great skating and an ability to back defenders up and create separation, which is constantly opening up space for linemates. Donnelly is a prototypical leader, and gritty forward who is equal parts tough and skilled. Zivojevic really exploded in the playoffs after some key injuries, and showed he has big time potential to have a real breakout season this year. With all the trials and semi-dysfunction that occurred last year, it's not out of the realm of possibility that these players could all improve on their totals this time around. Brady Stewart will also return and will get more responsibility and a chance to improve on his 16 point year, and new additions Owen Torrie and Jeremy Davidson will be tasked with adding immediate scoring punch. Walkerton will essentially get its top two lines back from last year, and with a new sense of purpose and guidance under Jordan Turcotte behind the bench, this could become the highest scoring unit in the division.
On the back end is where the Hawks will have the biggest loss, where perennial defensive all-star Josh Deyell has aged out. GM Steve Barrett often referred to Deyell as "the most feared defender in the league," and Deyell often backed that up with punishing hits, and great point totals to go with it. Deyell had 25 points in a shortened 24 game campaign, and that presence at even strength and special teams will be sorely missed. However, the Hawks will enjoy the return of Brendan Welsh, who also had 25 points and has a nasty streak just like Deyell, as his 109 PIMs would indicate. Welsh is now the big dog on the back end, and he is more than capable of filling the role and raising the level of his team mates. Quinton Maddock will also be back to take a bigger role in every aspect, particularly the power play, after a stellar 20 point campaign. Maddock will get a bigger role on either the first or second unit, and his point total should balloon from last year being able to utilize his excellent shot. Barrett is also excited about the addition of Colin Brady, a Shallow Lake native who Barrett says "was once the highest regarded '98 born defender in the area." Brady is 6'0" tall, but is 220 pounds and has a physical edge to his game. In 36 games spread across 2 years with the Grey Highlands Hawks of the renegade CPJHL, Brady had 27 points, and should add another skilled and mean asset to the Walkerton back end. Jack Morris, a former Wingham Ironmen defender, will also join up and try to get back on track after coming back to soon from injury last year. Finally, youngster Austin Vanwyck will be back, and could certainly improve his 14 point total from last year when he was just 17. The Hawks will still have an excellent D-core to rely on with veterans who have been there, done that.
In goal, the Hawks will have their sensational young stopper Matt Donnelly back in the crease. The younger brother of captain Justin, Matt had an exceptional year for a 17-year-old, with a large chunk of his season played while still only 16. For such a young goalie to seize the crease for Walkerton bodes nothing but great things, as he should continue to only get better and put up even better totals. That said, last year was pretty darn impressive. Donnelly put up a 13-2-1 record, with a .895 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA. Those will surely improve behind a more focused, and much more healthy, group in front of him. He is the undisputed number one, and in the league final last year, he won at least one of the Hawks games in Mount Forest by himself. He has the ability to make saves that goalies should have no business making, and as he learns to rely on better positioning and not having to make spectacular stops every time, his numbers will continue to tick upward. In terms of a backup, at the time of writing there wasn't a clear cut name penciled in, but Barrett says it will go to the guys who stops pucks at camp and shows he wants to be there. It isn't a concern for this year, but with Donnelly's talent and trajectory, it's highly likely he won't be back next year, because he'll be in Jr. B at worst. So long term, the Hawks will need to nail down a name that can step in when Donnelly inevitably steps up and out.
For more on the upcoming Walkerton Hawks season, here's the full length interview with GM Steve Barrett.
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