ELORA – Although they finished first in the regular season, the Elora Rocks are taking nothing for granted as they head into the playoffs.
The newly revived team finished the season with 17 wins and three losses, placing them in first in the new Western Ontario Super Hockey League (WOSHL).
The team finished with a goal differential of 70, with 138 goals for and 68 against.
This is the senior team’s first year competing under the umbrella of the WOSHL.
“I think the season went really well despite obvious hurdles with COVID and stoppages and players and teams getting COVID and trying to battle through that type of adversity,” Rocks president Rich Wigmore said in an interview.
“That seemed to be our biggest opponent all year.”
Wigmore said the team met expectations in terms of personal goals they had set for themselves and where they wanted to rank going into the playoffs.
“We’re really where we want to be but we definitely feel like that’s like a very minor accomplishment for our end goal for this season,” he explained.
While COVID may have been the team’s toughest opponent, restrictions are lifting and things are returning to a kind of “normal,” which Wigmore said is exciting.
“It was just hard to keep [the team] excited because everything was in limbo,” Wigmore said of the pandemic’s impact.
“We didn’t really know whether we were coming back, was the season going to end, did we have this incredible start to the year and just didn’t mean anything?”
Once the team was given the green light to finish the season, Wigmore said he could see the excitement and drive come back for the team.
“But it was definitely a big hurdle trying to keep this age group motivated throughout the pandemic,” he said.
“Our community support is what kept us alive to be honest – that and sponsors.”
The community maintained its loyalty throughout the season, with crowds averaging roughly 300 fans per game.
While the team had many victories on and off the ice, Wigmore said one of the notable achievements for the team was keeping ahead of the Strathroy Jets, its strongest opponent.
“They are a really strong team and we ended up winning every game in the regular season against them,” he explained.
“We know that we beat every team now and going into playoffs that’s a good feeling knowing that overall we had a better record against every team.”
While finishing first in the regular season feels good, Wigmore said team members are not getting too ahead of themselves.
“It just feels like a step in the right direction,” he explained, “but playoffs are a completely different game.
He noted teams begin to get full rosters, they have full attendance, they play harder and take more chances.
“So it feels really good to get where we’re at,” he said. “But it was step one in our goal to win a championship, and that’s all we’re thinking about right now.
“Maybe looking back, it’ll feel good that we finished in first in the regular season, but it won’t feel good unless we win in the playoffs.”
Heading into the playoffs, Wigmore said the team is feeling confident.
“They haven’t had a playoff series in a couple years because of COVID and stuff, so they’re pretty anxious,” he said. “So hopefully, they’re not gripping their sticks too tight or anything, but they’re feeling good.
“They know that they can beat any team, so it’s really our championship to lose.”
It’s the closeness and the team camaraderie that may prove to be the team’s greatest asset heading into the playoffs.
“The vibe in the dressing room is something else, I can’t even explain it,” Wigmore said. “It makes you really want to be a part of it.
“And I think that’s what’s going to help us in playoffs and take us really deep is what the guys would do for each other on and off the ice, they’ve really bonded.”
The main focus heading into the playoffs, Wigmore explained, will be keeping the players healthy and able to play longer shifts.
With many pandemic restrictions now lifted, the arena will be at full capacity and tickets will be sold at the door.
For updates on the Rocks’ schedule and more information, followers can check out the team’s Instagram (@elorarocks_WOHSL) or Facebook.
Wigmore also expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the team, for its sponsors.
“Having a season with a brand new team or a rebranded team in a new league with new expenses, and fighting half-capacity limits with fans and all these things, without sponsors, it would have been tough to have to even have a season,” he explained.
“So the fact that we’re where we are at is special and awesome, and that definitely wouldn’t have happened without our sponsors.”
The Elora Rocks will take to the ice against the Stratford Fighting Irish this Friday (March 11) at the Elora Community Centre. Puck drop is at 8:30pm.
