The Mitchell Hawks are putting together an impressive season this year, as they continue to celebrate the franchise's 50th year of junior hockey.
Head Coach Korey Dietz says he's been pleased with the progress the team has made throughout the year so far, and says they've found good chemistry at the right times.
"We've been solid from the goaltending out, to our 'D', and lots of offense up front, the goals-against is where we want it to be. I'd say expectations have been met for the most part, and there's lots of hockey left to play," he says.
Mitchell does have a very good goals-against differential, as they have 134 goals-for and just 71 goals-against. That's a plus-63 differential, which bodes very well for a team that wants to go deep into the PJHL playoffs. That great stat has Mitchell at a 18-8-1 mark, good for 37 points and 2nd in the Pollock Division. The Walkerton Hawks are ten ahead with 47, but Dietz says catching them isn't a big focus for Mitchell.
"Yeah, we talk about catching them, but we really just look at our team and being consistent, and try not to worry about what other teams are doing. We are more worried about being ready for Game 1 of the playoffs, and finishing first or second, it doesn't matter, if we have to play that extra game on the road in the playoffs, we're happy to do that."
Offense has been a big factor this year, as Mitchell has the top three scorers in the division, with Derek Elliot first with 53, Nathan Templeman at 43 and Blake Pickering with 39. Templeman in particular has been really impressive, as he's only played 19 games, but has 19 goals, and his 43 points give him a 2.26 points-per-game average, which is elite level production in junior.
Dietz says despite taking on a heavy workload at Western University, Templeman always show up prepared.
"Nathan is just a guy who shows up ready to play whenever he's available, which is awesome considering he is busy with school at Western," says Dietz. "He reminds me almost a bit of an Aaron Armstrong type of guy, who just can show up and wants to win every night and wants to score points."
With this being the 50th year of Mitchell Hawks hockey, the team has been able to be part of some cool events. They took part in the tour of the visiting EHC Dubendorf team from Switzerland, who came and did a holiday tour of the PJHL.
Dietz says playing against international competition, especially during the World Juniors, was really exciting for the team.
"It was a really great experience, to play against international kids who came here to play PJHL teams," he says. "Doug Kennedy [GM of the Kincardine Bulldogs] needs to be commended, and the OHA as well, for getting that team over here. The boys really enjoyed it."
Also on the calendar for the Mitchell Hawks is the upcoming Leafs Alumni game where Mitchell Hawks Alumni will take on former Leafs players, featuring Rick Vaive, Nathan Perrott, Todd Warriner and many others. The game is January 14, and Dietz will be playing for Mitchell. He says it's all part of a special year in Mitchell.
"That's going to be a special night, obviously I was honoured to be asked to play, and we really wanted to get as many local guys out who played two or three years with the Hawks," says Dietz. "Having the Leafs come in, everyone wants to see that, and it's going to be another great thing for the community."