Dolphins remain perfect this season

   Bisschop drove to a championship in kart racing and now the LDSS grad

     has a goal to be on the ride to another title on the ice

Friday September 28, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

DORCHESTER -  This summer Austin Bisschop was behind the wheel winning a season points championship in Kart racing.

Now in a seat with the Dorchester Dolphins, the soon to be 19-year old is aiming to help his hometown team drive towards a Yeck Division title in the Provincial Junior Hockey League.

Bisschop scored his first career junior goal, as the Dolphins blanked the Aylmer Spitfires, 3-0, at the Flight Exec Centre, to remain perfect at 6-0-0.

"It was quite exhilarating," said Bisschop. "It's quite a relief to get that first one off of my shoulders."

Bisschop made it 3-0 early in the second period in game that the Dolphins held the majority in puck possession and out shot their guests, 53-17.

Dorchester's top line of Ryan Root, Dylan Buckholz and Alex Pettipiece wasted no time ensuring the winless Spitfires wouldn't surprise the early Yeck leaders.

Root scored just 41 seconds into the game and Buckholz followed four minutes later, striking with the man advantage. Pettipiece assisted both goals.

"We played a quick, solid game," said Root, who picked up an assist on Bisschop's goal. "It was nice to get on them quick and put them on their heels."

Noah Lambe completed the scoring during a third period power play. Colin Capstick drew assists on the Dolphins' final two goals.

Dorchester is the lone unbeaten team in the Yeck, sitting five points up on second place North Middlesex.

"Our speed against any team is phenomenal. All of our forwards are so fast on all four lines," said Root. "We can pressure (opponents) all game and we just beat their D and wear them down and by the end of the game they have nothing to give. That's the game we thrive on."

Gordie Howe would have enjoyed Root's game. The fourth year Dolphin finished with a goal, assist and a fight, taking on Nikolas Churchhill, after the Spitfire's questionable hit on Buckholz. Churchill was assessed a head contact misconduct penalty and both players received fighting game misconducts.

Bisschop is one of several rookies who are meshing well with veterans. Root pointed out the play of his line-mate Pettipiece and forward David Henshaw.

"The vets have been super awesome to us and make us feel included on the team," said Bisschop. "A lot of newer guys we're all buddies from playing together in previous years (with Dorchester minor hockey) and we've all gone to school together.  So we all mesh together and we're all good friends."

The Lord Dorchester high school grad, in his first year of kinesiology at Western University, is finishing a successful season on the kart track, with his younger brother Josh.

"We both competed at Waterloo Regional kart club this year and we both won our championships," said Austin. "That's the first time we both won in the same year. Together, we have 12 championships between the two of us in 11 years."

Earlier this month, Austin won the senior medium division and Josh, the junior heavy division. Their final race is the regional on Thanksgiving weekend.

Racing, school and playing Dolphin hockey gives Austin, who turns 19 next month, a full schedule.

"I have school Monday through Friday. I've games here (Dorchester) plus practice every week. I'm on a ball hockey team, I'm going to be playing indoor soccer soon and I work at A&W. I'll be super busy this year, so we'll see how that goes with school."

Hockey and kart racing are two different sports, but Austin says the mental side is similar.

"Both take a lot of mentality. You need to think a lot. In hockey, when you don't have the puck, you need to think, how do I get open, or make a play to get someone else open," Austin explains. "Same in racing, you can't just be driving and hope that it's going to work out. You have to be always thinking, how am I going to get by this guy, or how am I going to defend this guy. They're both thinking sports and you got to have a good drive to want to win and want to put the effort in."

It's very early in to the 40 game schedule, but the Dolphins are in the driver's seat for first place.