Healthy Dolphins ready for the bite

   Dorchester faces Mt. Brydges Bulldogs in opening round of PJHL playoffs

   Thursday, February 8, 2018

By Rob J. Ross

DORCHESTER- Tim Flynn will have an unusual view for the Provincial Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Dorchester Dolphins' head coach will look down his bench and see 18 regular players, healthy and ready for action.

For the majority of their regular season, the Dolphins have been hampered by injuries and illness, with a few suspensions thrown in to make it interesting.

Still, the Dolphins managed to finish third in the Yeck Division, with a 27-11-2 record. Second place was attainable until their second last game of the schedule, when the Dolphins lost at Exeter, 2-1, on February 2.

"The good thing is we're healthy, finally. We actually had a healthy scratch Friday and Saturday (final regular season games)," said Flynn. "We're a different team when we're healthy, no doubt about that."

Only forward Zach Robertson remains out of the line-up with an injury.

Dorchester does enter the post season on a three game skid, the club's longest losing streak since a three game slide in late 2014. The Dolphins fell on home ice to the Thamesford Trojans, 5-4, on February 3 and loss to Lambeth, in overtime, on January 27.

Flynn isn't concerned about the recent losses, stating the team has been playing well. At Exeter, the Dolphins out shot their host 52-27, making Hawks' goalie Dane Gubbels the player of the game.

Against Thamesford, a game with no impact on the standings, the Dolphins rested their top two goalies.

A positive against the Trojans, was seeing Christian Huff, Dylan Van Dusen and Nolan Blewett score. The Dolphins will need secondary scoring to take the pressure of the team's top line of Dylan Buckholz, Ryan Root and Brent House.

 "If there's any concern I have, it's will we score enough goals. There are guys in a drought but hopefully they break out," Flynn said. "The line of Bucky, Root and House, have been carrying us. We know we'll get production out of them. We need the third and fourth lines. They're good players, but we need them to chip in."

Buckholz also scored against Thamesford, to finish with 37 goals in 40 games. The Dorchester native led the Yeck Division, with 37 goals and 39 assists for 76 points.

Just in time for playoffs, Lucas Wilson rejoins the line-up, following a 10 game suspension. The veteran forward had 15 goals and 22 assists in his 21 games played, during a season cut in half, due to two suspensions.

The head coach has no worries about Wilson being rusty, having not played since, well, last year, December 16, at Aylmer.

"I'm really not too concerned. He's a fitness nut. I've watched him at practice. He's not out of shape," Flynn said. "He's always been a kid who's full of energy and one of the best in shape on the team."

Up next, is a best of seven game first round series with the Mt Brydges Bulldogs. Game one, the first of three games on consecutive nights, is at Dorchester, on February 9.

Dorchester won all five regular season meetings, but two did require overtime.

No surprise, the Dolphins' top line hurt the Bulldogs over those five games, with Buckholz having six goals and seven assists, Root had four goals and four assists and House, three goals and six assists. Turner Balasin had two goals and three assists.

Putting the bite into the Bulldogs, is their leading scorer, forward Alex Cox, with 25 goals and 19 assists, in 30 games.

"The Cox kid. We have to shut him down,” Flynn said. "We have to be aware when he's on the ice and take away his space and time. He's a big kid, who's fast and has a great shot.”

Tanner LaFrance (17g, 12a, in 33 games) is an additional top dog. LaFrance led the ‘Dogs with two goals and three assists in the five games against Dorchester.

The Dolphins have the number one power play (26.6 percent), while Mt. Brydges (11.1) was at the bottom of the division. Both penalty killing units are middle of the pack.

Out of the gate in first period of game one, Flynn says, "I'm hoping we play with energy to get things going.”

Game one is Friday, 7:30 pm, at the Flight Exec Centre.

Dorchester and Mt Brydges have met twice before in the playoffs, with the Dolphins winning both series. Two years ago was a four game sweep and the Dolphins took their 2013 encounter in five games.