MITCHELL ADVOCATE Bentley Ward, goalie with the Weekend Warriors U1] ball hockey team, makes this save on this Dusty Dangler during preliminary action of the Mitchell Hawks ball hockey tournament July 13 at the Mitchell Are- a. ANDY BADER Owen oe oft the Tee Team Canada ball SES wee is thwarted by Astros’ goalie Nathan Walt during preliminary action of the 2nd annual Mitchell Hawks tournament July 13 at the Mitchell Arena. The Astros dropped this game in a shootout but rallied to win the division, one of three age groups to have teams participate. Sania Beiens (left) of the Meteor ome stickhandles throu; during preliminary ball hockey action against Will Courtney (8) and the Mitchell Comets during the four-team U9 division July 13. Flurry of player signings to | form Hawks' ‘nucleus for upcoming |season ANDY BADER It’s not even August yet, but the Mitchell Hawks have been busy these past few weeks signing players that will form the nucleus of their roster for the upcoming 2024-25 PJHL season. General Manager Cory Brough- ton announced some returnees via social media last week, including | the return of defenceman Aiden McMann, 21, who is one of the | club’s overage players. “He won't put up a ton of points | forusbut he will keep the puck out solid and reliable defenceman.” McMann, the son of new assis- tant coach Troy McMann, did not play last season due to school com- mitments in Orillia but has two- plus years of experience. Brough- ton said the team had to get league approval for him to play since he did not sign a Hawks’ card a year ago. notplaying _ WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2024 11 SS sarah ‘Van Bakel, a graduate of the Mitchell U18 hockey program, has... signed to play with the Mitchell Hawks this 2024-25 PJHL season. Van Bakel is the son of a former Hawk, Greg, who's uncles Gary and Randy also saw duty with the junior club “back in the day.” Defenceman Aiden McMann has rejoined the Mitchell Hawks, signing rie his overage season in 2024-25 after a year away from the PJHL squad. dad Ken didn’t finish the season as the Hawks’ head coach a year ago, having in another league, gare i to school last year and playing on the Hawks the previous seasons Joining him on the blueline are returnees Carter Coates, Cole Bai- erand Brayden Vosper while bac! in the fold after a year in Tavistock is Stratford native Zach McCann. Another of the team’s overage players is goalie Tomas Brintnell, whojoined the cluba year ago after being acquired from North Mid- dlesex. Another netminder hasn’t officially signed but Broughton has high hopes. After two seasons in goal, Josh Jacklin. eothiswishand was traded to Neva a two seasons before that and was part of the bench staff when the Hawks won the Pollock division title in 2021-22. Another player who requested a trade, forward Dawson Dietz, was recently dealt to Wingham. ii i last ton said the6-ft., 200 Ib. playmak- er “works his butt off every shift” and will help. Originally from Kincardine, Fletcher now lives in Kitchener-Waterloo originally. Forward Connor Lockhart has a knee injury so his status is un- known for the start ae the cam- paign, Broughton note: Broughton said the club willhost August year’s leading scorer, Jon Tenhag and his big brother Ben; Patrick Holloway and his youngerbrother Owen, Talbot Geiger, Ben Fizell, Tristan Bouchard, newly acquired Kaden Brame and rookies Jar- rett Van Bakel from the Mitch- ell U18 Meteors, Nathan Jewitt, of the Huron-Perth Lakers and Ryan Gansevles from Stratford. cverager with taeeaebids: His 5 Last week, the Hawks also ac- ired 20. aisewedCarsoi Fletcher from Goderich. Brough- in Stratford to fill remaining holes before the start of anew seasons The Hawks have four exhibition games scheduled as well: Aug. 13in New Hamburg at 8 p.m., in Wood- stock Aug, 18 at 7:45 p.m., and two “home” games in Listowel against North Middlesex on Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. and Woodstock three nights later on Aug. 22 at 7:45 p.m. Mitchell will open their 2024- 25 PJHL regular season at home to Hanover on Sept [4.at7:15 nei