Kincardine Bulldogs edged out by Walkerton in season home opener

The Nicol Insurance Bulldogs were edged out by the Walkerton Hawks, 6-5, in the season home opener, Saturday night at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine.

Walkerton opened the scoring early in the first period, before Kincardine's Brady Richards fired one home, minutes later, from Keegan McLelland, to tie the game at 1-1.

Midway in the period, Walkerton went ahead again, on the powerplay. But Jordan Van Haelemeesch of the 'Dogs tied it up on an unassisted goal, making it 2-2 heading into the second.

The Hawks owned the middle frame, firing in three unanswered goals, two on the powerplay, to take a commanding 5-2 lead.

The 'Dogs fired back in the third, scoring three goals of their own. Jesse Gunn scored from Tyler Fregona and Robert White; Richards scored from White and Derrick Bernath; and Freiburger scored from Tyler Sutter.

But the Hawks worked the powerplay late in the period, to snag the game-winner.

The 'Dogs will host Goderich, Friday at 8:30 p.m., and then travel to Mitchell to face the Hawks, Sunday at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs are now part of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL), a rebranding of the former Junior C league, states a message from the hockey club, on the back of the game program.

During the off-season, the province's eight Junior C hockey leagues worked together to form the PJHL which consists of 63 teams divided into four conferences, each containing two divisions.

The rebranding of Junior C to the PJHL brings with it standardized rules and operating procedures, and is driven toward removing the stigma of Junior C being the last stop in a junior career, but rather being a legitimate developmental step for young players.

The Bulldogs clearly justify this, sending four of last year's regulars to higher level hockey - three to the GOJHL (Junior B) and one to the OJHL (Provincial Junior A).

The divisions were named for notable individuals or families in their respective areas for their contributions to local hockey.

The Bulldogs are proud members of the Pollock Division, named in honour of Kincardine's own Clarke Pollock and his son, Kevin. Clarke is a well-respected referee all over southwestern Ontario, and Kevin is a referee with NHL and Olympic experience, and also a member of the 1990-91 Hanover Barons, the last club from the old Western Junior C League to win the provincial title - the Schmalz Cup.

For more information, check the website at www.pjhlontario.ca