Blackhawks are hoping to soar higher
Veteran Thorold team looking to finish above .500 for first time in five years
The Thorold Blackhawks head into the 2019-20 Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season hoping to take another step up the ladder.
While the ultimate goal would be the junior B team’s second Sutherland Cup championship and first since 2005, Scott Barnes would be happy if the team finishes well above .500 in his third year as owner and head coach.
His confidence that the ’Hawks can improve on last season’s 20-23-1-4 record in league play, good enough for fifth in the Golden Horseshoe Conference, is buoyed by the number of players eligible to return. Thorold lost only one 20-year-old to graduation, and upwards of 14 returnees — “maybe more,” Barnes said — can come back for another season.
“For the first time in a long time, we actually have experience. The last couple of years, we’ve been primarily a younger team,” he said. “With that comes strength and guys who know how to play in the league.”
Forty prospects attended the opening of training camp, a number that needs to be down to 23 by the time the seasonopening GOJHL Showcase takes place Sept. 6 to 8 at Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill.
“We’re looking for a little bit of everything right now,” Barnes said. “Speed is the most important part of the game right now, so we’re looking for guys who can skate.
“Skill would be the second thing, so speed and skill. Some size and grit never hurt, either.”
Thorold is 1-2 in exhibition games — Niagara Falls Canucks, 2-7; Caledonia Corvairs, 1-5; Welland Jr. Canadians, 8-4 — but the final scores don’t matter to Barnes and his coaching staff.
“No, not at all. We want to see who can play,” he said.
‘‘ “Speed is the most important part of the game right now, so we’re looking for guys who can skate.” SCOTT BARNES Thorold Blackhawks owner-head coach
“They’re trying to make the team, so it’s not about winning and losing.
“It’s all about trying to find the best kids for your hockey club.”
Among players who can return is goaltender Chase Grsic. The 17-year-old from Stoney Creek backstopped Thorold to an 11-80-1 record in 20 regular-season games, limiting opponents to 3.12 goals per game and compiling a .893 save percentage.
He currently is away at Owen Sound Attack’s training camp.
The Blackhawks, who went 20-22-3-5 in Barnes’ first season behind the bench, haven’t had a winning record since going in 28-17-0-4 and placing fourth in the Golden Horseshoe in 2013-14.
Given that they are in the enviable position of assembling one of the more-seasoned rosters, the Blackhawks will be disappointed if they don’t finish league play on the plus side of the won-loss ledger.
“The last couple of years we thought .500 would be a decent year for us,” Barnes said. “This year, I definitely would say we should be over that.”
Barnes is getting used to wearing a “lot or hats” running the franchise after one season in junior B as head coach of Pelham Panthers.
“It’s a process. I’ll get the hang of it,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s Year 3. My goal was to give myself five years, by the fifth year having everything running as smoothly as possible.
“Definitely not there right now, but hopefully we are getting there.”
Right now, the coaching hat is the last one he wants to take off.
“I still have the love for coaching. Once I don’t, then I can step back, but I’m not ready to do that right now.”