So, so close. That's the story of the 2021-22 Hanover Barons.
After a fantastic regular season that saw the Barons pip the rival Mitchell Hawks to first place by just 2 points, those same Mitchell Hawks put the Barons through a rough-and-tumble 6 games before a deciding game 7 in Hanover for the Pollock Division title. That's where it all came shockingly off the rails for Hanover, as they succumbed to an 8-0 drubbing on home ice. That type of end to an otherwise great year will typically leave a sour taste in an organization's mouth, and GM Blair Butchart said as much, saying it was "tough to get all the way there and lose." For a young man so accustomed to winning as a player, Blair Butchart the front office man quickly set to work on bringing back a great core and some exciting new players to try and right the wrongs of that game 7 and get the job all the way done this year.
The Barons will lose the services of their best defender last year in overager Samson Walsom, whose 22 points led the D core in scoring and came alongside plenty of snarl and smash-mouth physicality. Another overage defender, Dean Sealy, will also be lost, leaving with even more defensive solidity and bite on the back end. Also leaving due to OA status is Trent Verbeek, who was tied for second on the team in points with 34, and Owen Torrie, who chipped in 29. Both those forwards brought dogged forechecking and a nose for the net, and that would be a tough set of losses alone if you didn't also factor in leading goal scorer and reigning PJHL Pollock Division Rookie of the Year, Alex McGillivray, is also out the door, heading to Jr. B Listowel. His 18 goals and pure sniping ability will be greatly missed, but GM Butchart feels a returning cast of characters and some new faces will be able to fill in the gaps and help the Barons go for broke again.
Up front, leading scorer Jonah White (44 points) will return, giving the Barons a no doubt number one weapon. Despite a tough Pollock Division Final where the goals dried up, White is as consistent a player as you'll find at this level in terms of effort and ability to score points. Captain and tone setter Tyson Lina, who's also a hometown Hanover boy, will return, too, looking to right the wrongs of that ill fated game 7. Lina had 17 points in only 19 games, so it's fair to say if he plays more, 30 plus points and likely a point per game aren't out of the question. Recently, the Barons announced the return of Curtis Arnold from the Listowel Cyclones. Arnold was pencilled in by yours truly as a Cyclone this year, but he will return after starting last year in Hanover with 15 points in 14 games, before heading to Jr. B and posting 8 points in 22 games. Arnold adds plenty of skill down low and an ability to draw defenders in and laser a pass through traffic to open team mates. He will be welcomed back with wide open arms.
Also bolstering the forward core is returning Ryan Colquhoun, a rookie who put up an impressive 20 points in 30 games. The Barons will definitely look for more growth there as Colquhoun gets feds plenty more ice this year. Carter Moran, another rookie last year, also returns after a 19 point showing. Ryan Goetz had 33 points in 30 games and will also come back to be another huge returnee, as the Barons offensive prospects really are shaping up to be very, very solid. That's without mentioning big Dylan Richardson, who was a point per gamer with 19 points in 19 games, but maybe more importantly, set a very physical tone for Hanover, especially along the walls. Cohen McIsaac, who AP'ed a little with Jr. C Walkerton last year, joins the fold as a new face with speed to burn. More will be given and expected, as well, of young returnee Spencer Davidson, who only got into 14 games last year but has the abilities to penalty kill and contribute with solid defensive acumen.
On the back end, the Barons made two huge signings, bringing in former Listowel Cyclone Cam Angst and former Elmira Sugar King/KW Siskin, Payton McIsaac, Cohen's older brother. Angst will immediately add smooth skating and transitions to the blue line and likely slots in as the top pair minute muncher who will kill tons of penalties and keep opponents away from the crease. He has some offence in him, with 11 points last year in 46 games, but defence is the main contribution Angst will make. McIsaac, Payton that is, could well be the power play quarterback, sporting over 90 games of GOJHL experience, most recently last year with the KW Siskins, as he notched 21 points in 43 points. Both players can skate well and smoothly move pucks up the ice, and they give the Barons options in terms of loading up as a top pair or spreading the wealth around to an impressive returning cast.
That cast includes Chris Ferri, another overager returning to get after some unfinished business. Ferri is a puck rushing defender who will not be taken advantage of physically, with plenty of push back in his game. He will see pretty consistent power play time, too, after a solid 18 point effort in 29 games. Drayton Howell, a rookie last year who managed 9 points in 23 games and limited ice time, will certainly be given every opportunity to build on both those categories, and fellow youngster Eric Black, who only saw 6 games of action last year, will also be getting more responsibility thrust upon him. The Barons have the makings of an extremely solid and reliable D core that can't be described as one dimensional at all. They'll need that if they wish to get back to their ultimate goal of a f=division final and ultimately, a trophy for the cabinet, which GM Butchart says is "the number one goal, no question."
The likelihood of that coming to fruition for Butchart and company is significantly increased by the return of the Baron's fourth OA player in the form of Riley McCabe, who went toe-to-toe with Tyler Parr in the Mitchell net all season and through the Pollock Final, with the game 7 loss aside as McCabe was pulled after the 6-0 goal. When you look at the numbers though at the end of the day, they are magnificent, as McCabe went 16-2-1-2 with a 1.79 GAA, good for 4th best across the entire PJHL, a .930 save percentage and 2 shutouts. McCabe is a mail carrier, a workhorse goalie who can literally steal games with his rangy size and razor sharp mechanics. Hanover will also welcome back his backup, Lander Hartley, who put up excellent numbers as a rookie. His 9-1 record with a 1.91 GAA and .938 save percentage with 2 shutouts of his own let the front office know Hartley is the heir apparent, and the Barons know they have complete solidity no matter who takes the blue paint for them.
Hanover will benefit from the returning voice of Peter Irwin behind the bench, alongside Assistant Coach Brady Anderson, whose experience of wild success as a Jr. B Listowel Cyclone and ability to relate to the players is invaluable. Another former Cyclone, Brenden Clayton, has joined up as a development coach, and he will most definitely help keep this team, at the very least, in tip top physical condition, something he took pride in as a player. The pieces are all here. The returning cast and new faces are talented and hungry. Will it all come together in Hanover? We're about to find out.
For a full length interview with Hanover Barons GM Blair Butchart, click below:
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