Admirals open season at home Saturday versus Dresden
Despite coming up short in all three of their pre-season games this past week, the Amherstburg Admirals are showing signs that they could compete in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) West Stobbs Division.
The Admirals were beaten 5-1 by the defending divisional champs Lakeshore Canadiens last Thursday night in Tecumseh with Brayden Hebert scoring the lone goal for Amherstburg.
The next night at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore, the visitors came out flying and scored early on a Cooper Woodman tally but ended up losing 5-3. They were shutout by the Sharks Saturday night in Wheatley, 3-0.
“We put a line together tonight (Friday) that was a Triple A line last year of Cooper Woodman, Parker Janisse and Alex Schneider. They scored all three goals and could have had four. I thought they did a great job,” said Admirals’ head coach Paul Bortignon.
With a huge turnover in players coming into the 2026-27 season, and just a handful of returnees, the Admirals will rely heavily on rookies.
Against Lakeshore Friday night, Schneider had what is known as a “Gordie Howe hat trick” as he had a goal, an assist and a fight. He actually had a pair of tallies which came just 41 seconds late in the second period and pulled the visitors to within one headed into the second intermission.
A year ago, with the Windsor AAA Junior Spitfires he had 31 points including 16 goals. After Friday’s game in Lakeshore, he admitted it’s nice having his AAA teammates playing with him in Amherstburg.
“It’s a lot of help, it’s comfortable. We are a family. I know where they are going to be on the ice and they know where I am going to be,” Schneider said.
Injuries, including one to third-year centre Cory Leach, could mean a lot more time for the newcomers which means they will have to adapt to junior hockey quickly.
“It’s a faster game and more physical obviously. It forces you to step up,” said Schneider who mixed it up with Lakeshore’s Julian Gignac.
Bortignon said coming back after being down 3-1 in Friday’s game and skating with the Canadiens all night was positive.
“The work ethic was second to none. We still have seven or eight regular guys out of the lineup. We feel good about going into next weekend.
Amherstburg will open its regular 42-game schedule with a pair of games next weekend. The season opener is at home on Saturday with a puck drop of 7 p.m. against the Dresden Kings and the following night they travel to Blenheim to meet the Blades.
SLAPSHOTS: Charlie Dufour has been traded to the LaSalle Vipers Jr. B team and Dacian Pillon-Vandenbogaerden, who came over in a trade from Lakeshore, is headed to Welland… Rookie defenceman Jack Emery will miss a few games with an injury he suffered in the first exhibition game.
Admirals open season at home Saturday versus Dresden
By Fred Groves
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