Shearer is PJHL Coach of the Year

Pat Shearer says when the Town of Frankford got junior hockey back in 2021, he had a 5-year plan to make the team a champion.

He says not only is the club on track, but in his opinion, “it is ahead of schedule”.

Much of the credit for the team’s success is due to Shearer and his coaching staff.

This year Shearer was recognized across the entire 61-team league, was named the Ontario Junior C (PJHL) Coach of the Year.

“When you think of where this team was in the 2021-21 season, to now, it is incredible,” says Shearer.  “We had to play catch up when we first got the club from Ayr (Centennials).  It was a struggle at times in year one, however we made sure the players enjoyed their experience.”

Shearer’s experience outside Frankford includes stints in the OJHL with the Kingston Voyageurs (now Collingwood Blues), the Pickering Panthers, and the Trenton Golden Hawks, along with several years coaching in the Quinte Red Devils system.

The Stirling-Rawdon native continued, “It is humbling to be recognized across the league.  Our General Manager Ian Green, my Associate Coaches (Doug Mathew, Jaxon Boyer, Andrew Lewis, and Scoley Dow) are incredible.  This is an award by committee.”

Shearer finished by saying, “The most important award for this team is a championship, it is not a personal trophy, or a regular season trophy, but a league championship.  We feel like we are moving forward in the right direction.  The Coach of the Year honour does tell me however that our staff is doing something right, that we are going in the right direction.”

Frank Robinson is the Director of Hockey Operations. “As a coach in junior hockey, you must be liked by the players.  The players enjoy the environment Pat, and his coaches provide, they love the atmosphere. “

In three seasons, the Frankford Huskies have gone from winning one game in 2021-22, to winning the Tod Division Regular Season crown in 2023-24.

The Huskies lead the division in Goals For (216), lowest Goals Against (116), Points (64), and Power Play (23.9 %).

Division awards in 2023-24 include:

Top Defenceman – Ty McCambridge
Top Goals Against – Dean Spry/Sam Dingle
Top Goalie Award – Dean Spry
Coaching Staff of the Year – Pat Shearer, Doug Mathew, Andrew Lewis, Jaxon Boyer, Scoley Dow