The Mitchell Hawks are the 2021-2022 PJHL Pollock Division champions.
Mitchell won game Game 7 in Hanover 8-0 Saturday night following up an overtime loss on home ice on Friday.
Special teams were the difference and were what got Mitchell on the scoreboard first. Three different players scored on the power play within a two-and-a-half-minute span.
The first two were scored during 5-on-3 on efforts by Charlie Rankin and Tyson Hall.
The third power play goal was scored by Ryan Murray.
That would cap the scoring in the first.
In the second period, Hawks’ captain Malcolm Mcleod scored on a high shot midway through the period to go up 4-0.
The third period saw more Mitchell scoring as the team tacked on four more goals.
Hanover just couldn’t generate any offense despite putting 34 shots on the net, including 16 in the second period.
For Mitchell, it is the team’s first title since moving up from the former Southern Ontario Junior ‘D’ Hockey League to the Western Junior ‘C’ League for the 2008-2009 season. The team would make back-to-back finals appearances in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
It was also a long layoff for players after the 2020-21 season was shelved because of COVID.
“It was long overdue,” said Mitchell captain, Malcolm Macleod. “I think us, the OA’s (overagers), and even the 20-year-old guys, have been waiting for a win for a long time. And after COVID, the first season back it feels really good to just come back hard and come back at our best.”
Macleod was also asked about his teammate, goalie Tyler Parr.
“This season meant a lot to him. If we had to pick a guy that had the biggest heart for the game, it would be that guy for sure,” said Macleod. “No one’s got a bigger heart than that kid.”
Parr came off the back of an MVP season, won 11 out of 14 games in the Pollock Division playoffs, posted five shut-outs, and carried a 1.13 GAA with a .964 save percentage.
For Mitchell coach Louis Livingstone, it’s a return to the top after coaching the Wingham Ironmen to a league title back in 2014.
“They don’t come along that often,” said Livingstone. “And to do it with these bunch of guys is just priceless.”
The next step for the Mitchell Hawks will be a series against the Stayner Siskins, who marched through the Carruthers Division Final in four straight of Alliston. The coin flip for home ice is expected Sunday and the schedule is to be set shortly thereafter.
