The Knights of Meaford and Grey Highlands Bravehearts both carry losing records into the new year. The Bravehearts sit 6th in the North Division with a 10-13-3 record. Meaford is bottom of the division with a 3-25-0 record heading into the holiday break.
Grey Highlands is new to the league this season. In the Spring of 2014, the Lefroy Wave moved to Markdale. They are the first junior team in town since the Junior D Markdale Mohawks played their final season in 1984-85.
The Bravehearts are already experiencing a vast improvement of the Wave from last year, who only won five games. The team is led by American forward Cameron Pfeiffer. He has 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points after 26 games.
Most of the roster are not local players. Many are from parts of the province as well as the U.S.A, Latvia, Sweden, Russia and Italy. Lucknow's Cole MacPherson and 15-year-old Southhampton goalie Cameron Plante make up the hometown contingent.
Winning three of their last four, they start 2015 in Cambridge against the Bears on January 2.
Meaford will be hoping to charge up the standings when they return from the holidays. Despite only three regular season wins, the Knights won both games at the league's college showcase, beating Orangeville 7-3 and North York 7-4.
The team is in their second season since joining the league. Like their county rivals in Markdale, the Knights bring junior hockey back into town after a long absence.
So far the team is led by Swede Carl Bergenstjerna and Slovakian Matej Moska with 20 points each. Other players on the roster are from Japan, Latvia, France, The U.S and Mexico. Connor Long and Mackenzie Fleming are both from Meaford.
January 3 the Knights get back on the ice when they visit Bracebridge. This year, Meaford is hosting the league's 9th annual All-Star Game on Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 at Meaford & St. Vincent Community Centre
About the GMHL: A Canadian Developmental Junior "A" ice hockey league. The GMHL is not affiliated with the Canadian Junior Hockey League or a member by Hockey Canada. 22 teams are located in the GTA, Central Ontario, Northeastern Ontario and Quebec. Heading into this season, around 380 players from 2006-2014 went on to play for NCAA colleges, various professional teams, major junior, or represented their country in various IIHF World Championships. A number of players are internationals from countries such as Mexico, Australia, France, Japan and Russia.
