Little Britain Merchants are stocking up for the PJHL season

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: The 2022-23 Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) season is less than a month away, and the Little Britain Merchants have been busy this summer stocking their lineup with an influx of talented rookies to join a solid veteran core, in the sports capital of the Kawarthas.

The team opens training camp on Friday, August 18th, in Lindsay and will hit the ice for their first preseason game on the road in Port Perry against the Lumberjacks on Friday, August 25th.

Over the past several weeks, the Merchants have announced a number of player signings as the team looks to improve on a third-place finish in the Orr Division standings, which saw their playoff run end in the division semi-finals against Uxbridge.

The team recently announced a pair of fan favourites, defenceman Chase Little and forward Owen Worsley, will be back in the lineup this season. As well the team has brought in a pair of sought-after prospects from Oshawa by way of Clarington. Joining the ‘Big Red Machine’ this season are forward Maddox Smith, who spent part of the 2021-22 PJHL season with the Clarington Eagles, as well as the Under-18 Central Ontario Wolves, and goaltender Carter Watson, who posted a perfect 7-0-0 record last season with the Eagles.