The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks announced their opening night roster for the 2019/20 WOAA Sr. “AA” Hockey League season.
In a Winterhawks media release, the team welcomes back 23 players from the 2018/19 season, including Captain Trevor Smith, who returns for his 10th season in Saugeen Shores.
Returning forwards include Bryan Kazarian, Jay Thomson, Miles MacLean, James McHaig, Andy Mitchell, Andy Fracz, Michael Johnstone, Blake Underwood, Connor Patton, Jamie Shoemaker, Curtis Johnston, Lauchlin Elder, Matt Shields, Trent Hawke and Mike Rocca.
Incumbent defencemen include Smith, Josh Deyell, Mike Smailes, Nick Quaid and Josh Hopkin.
Last season’s goaltending trio is returning, with Jeff Flagler, Eric Peicheff and Matt Tutin guarding the crease.
Newcomers include former NHL defenceman Theo Peckham, who returns to the Winterhawks after two-year absence and will anchor the defence with his physical brand of hockey.
Also returning is former captain Greg Thede, who signs after sitting a season on the sidelines. Thede is a seven-time WOAA Sr. “AA” champion, who captained the Winterhawks to four championships in 11-seasons and is the club’s all-time leader in games played (230).
This season also marks the return of the club’s all-time leading scorer, Brent MacDermid. A four-time WOAA champion, MacDermid holds the team record for goals (170) and points (331).
Forward Adam Kading joins the team after playing his first season in the WOAA for Shallow Lake. Kading, an emergency room physician at the Southampton hospital, posted 15 points in 19 games for the Crushers last season.
Also coming over from Shallow Lake is long-time WOAA veteran defenceman Adam Blundell. The Owen Sound native played seven seasons for the Crushers and prior to that, parts of five seasons with the Durham Thundercats. Blundell has recorded 120 points in 202 career WOAA games.
Guelph native Nic MacEachern rounds out the list of newcomers, and should endear himself to Winterhawks fans in short order. The 28-year old forward played four seasons of Jr. B, split between the Guelph Dominators and Elmira Sugar Kings.
In 183 career Jr. B games, the feisty MacEachern recorded 152 points and 457 penalty minutes.
The Winterhawks open the 2019/20 regular season this Saturday, October 5th, on the road in Kincardine against the Ripley Wolves at 5:00 p.m.
The Outlaw Brew Co. Home Opener is scheduled for Friday, October 11th when the Winterhawks host the rival Durham Thundercats.
It all starts at 5:30 p.m. with the Winterhawks Tailgate Party in the parking lot at Lakeshore Recreation. The event is free-of-charge, and will include a cash bar and food menu.
Things shift next door to The Plex for an 8:30 p.m. puck drop against the Thundercats. Ticket prices remain unchanged at $8 per person [kids 8-years old and under free with paying adult]. Season tickets are $100 per person and include admission to all regular season and playoff home games.
