Andy Bader

Having your say now about housing — or lack thereof — will help create a better community, Municipality of West Perth officials say. Article content

The cost of doing business has risen dramatically since West Perth passed its development charges bylaw in 2019, but a huge 79 per cent increase in

Article content The hosts of the recent Mitchell 11U and 13U baseball tournaments advanced to the semifinals in their respective divisions, but

Despite this success, West Perth officials now have bigger goals in mind

While Mitchell's 150th Homecoming promises to be a memorable party, you can't get the festivities started without a kick-off event. Article content

Mere days before a new, custom-made rutabaga processing plant north of Mitchell was to begin operation again, owners will have to start anew after a second devasting fire razed the entire building July 15.

It's not even August yet, but the Mitchell Hawks have been busy these past few weeks signing players that will form the nucleus of their roster for the upcoming 2024-25 PJHL season.

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : Flurry of player signings to form Hawks' nucleus for upcoming season Flurry of player signings to form Hawks' nucleus for upcoming season Author of the article: Article content It's not even August yet, but the Mitchell Hawks have been busy these past few weeks signing players that will form the nucleus of their roster for the upcoming 2024-25 PJHL season. Advertisement 2 Article content Flurry of player signings to form Hawks' nucleus for upcoming season Back to video General Manager Cory Broughton announced some returnees via social media last week, including the return of defenceman Aiden McMann, 21, who is one of the club's overage players. “He won't put up a ton of points for us but he will keep the puck out of our net and keep the opposition on their best behaviour around our net,” Broughton said. “He's just a solid and reliable defenceman.” McMann, the son of new assistant coach Troy McMann, did not play last season due to school commitments in Orillia but has two-plus years of experience. Broughton said the team had to get league approval for him to play since he did not sign a Hawks' card a year ago. “His good behaviour, not playing in another league, not playing due to school last year and playing on the Hawks the previous seasons prior were all in our favour to get him back,” Broughton said. Advertisement 3 Article content Joining him on the blueline are returnees Carter Coates, Cole Baier and Brayden Vosper while back in the fold after a year in Tavistock is Stratford native Zach McCann. Another of the team's overage players is goalie Tomas Brintnell, who joined the club a year ago after being acquired from North Middlesex. Another netminder hasn't officially signed but Broughton has high hopes. After two seasons in goal, Josh Jacklin got his wish and was traded to New Hamburg where he can finish his junior career as an overager with the Firebirds. His dad Ken didn't finish the season as the Hawks' head coach a year ago, having worked as an assistant two seasons before that and was part of the bench staff when the Hawks won the Pollock division title in 2021-22. Advertisement 4 Article content Another player who requested a trade, forward Dawson Dietz, was recently dealt to Wingham. Returning forwards include last year's leading scorer, Jon Tenhag and his big brother Ben; Patrick Holloway and his younger brother Owen, Talbot Geiger, Ben Fizell, Tristan Bouchard, newly acquired Kaden Brame and rookies Jarrett Van Bakel from the Mitchell U18 Meteors, Nathan Jewitt, of the Huron-Perth Lakers and Ryan Gansevles from Stratford. Last week, the Hawks also acquired 20-year-old forward Carson Fletcher from Goderich. Broughton said the 6-ft., 200 lb. playmaker “works his butt off every shift” and will help. Originally from Kincardine, Fletcher now lives in Kitchener-Waterloo originally. Forward Connor Lockhart has a knee injury so his status is unknown for the start of the campaign, Broughton noted. Broughton said the club will host at least two more tryouts in August in Stratford to fill remaining holes before the start of a new season. The Hawks have four exhibition games scheduled as well: Aug. 13 in New Hamburg at 8 p.m., in Woodstock Aug. 18 at 7:45 p.m., and two “home” games in Listowel against North Middlesex on Aug. 19 at 8 p.m. and Woodstock three nights later on Aug. 22 at 7:45 p.m. Mitchell will open their 2024-25 PJHL regular season at home to Hanover on Sept. 14 at 7:15 p.m. Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Flurry of player signings to form Hawks' nucleus for upcoming season Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings

As the inspirational Jose Altuve poster hanging in his family's Scott Court garage reflects, Josh French isn't the biggest 18-year-old you'll ever meet.

Article content The Mitchell U15 Vosper girls fastball team brought home the silver medal in the eight-team Goderich tournament over the