What does it take to build a junior hockey team in a small town and turn it into something the whole community can be proud of?

In this special live episode from the Port Dover Arena, Adam Walker sits down with Mike Tobin to talk about the season that was for the Port Dover Sailors, the playoff run that pushed Grimsby to seven games, and what the future looks like for hockey in Dover.

They also dive into Mike’s own hockey journey, from growing up in Hagersville to junior hockey, pro hockey, and some unbelievable stories from playing in Quebec, Oklahoma City, and even overseas.

In this episode, we talk about

🏒 The Sailors’ playoff push and taking Grimsby to the limit
🏒 Why culture, accountability, and community matter so much in junior hockey
🏒 The reality of minor hockey then versus now
🏒 Mike’s craziest pro hockey stories
🏒 Why the PJHL is a great fit for players who still want to compete at a high level
🏒 What is next for the Port Dover Sailors

This episode is powered by Walker Mortgages.

As winter sports wrap up, many families are carrying balances on credit cards, lines of credit, and monthly payments that are getting harder to manage. If that sounds familiar, check out the Monthly Payment Reset tool at adamwalkermortgages.com and see if there may be a way to save money each month and take some stress off before the next season starts.

We are also proud to keep shining a light on local teams doing great things across Norfolk and Haldimand.

Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow Hometown Sports Network for more local athlete stories, team interviews, and community sports coverage.

n Episode 8 of the Hometown Sports Podcast, we sit down with Jeryn Shortt to talk about his baseball journey from Simcoe to the University of Indianapolis.

Jeryn shares stories from growing up in the Simcoe Giants program, winning OBA titles, helping Simcoe Composite School reach OFSAA, making a big impact at Lambton College, and taking the next step to NCAA Division II baseball. He also talks about the transition to college ball, the daily grind of being a student athlete, and the advice he would give to younger players who want to play at the next level.

This episode is powered by Walker Mortgages. If sports season costs have you feeling squeezed every month, check out the Cashflow Reset Calculator to see if there may be a way to save more money monthly and reduce financial stress heading into the next season.

Jen Brackenbury from the Simcoe Minor Lacrosse Association (Norfolk Timberwolves) joins us for Episode 7 to talk about the growth of lacrosse in Norfolk County, the rebuild after COVID, and what’s next for the program.

We cover the early history (Simcoe Roadrunners → Timberwolves), how the OLA system works, why lacrosse is such a great fit for multi-sport athletes (especially hockey players), and the big goals ahead — including field lacrosse, future sixes, and bringing back a strong girls program.

This episode is powered by Walker Mortgages — if sports season bills are stacking up and you want to explore debt consolidation to lower payments and reduce stress, book a call at www.mewithadam.ca.

Want to get involved or learn more? Head to the Timberwolves website and follow along — and don’t forget to submit your team scores at hometownsportsnetwork.ca.

Volleyball in Norfolk County has exploded — and Norfolk Chaos is right in the middle of it.

In this episode of the Hometown Sports Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Tyndale, President of Norfolk Chaos Volleyball, to break down how Chaos started 10 years ago with one team… and has grown into one of the biggest youth volleyball programs in the region.

We talk about:
🏐 How Chaos began (and why it was built as a nonprofit)
🏐 The massive growth of indoor + beach volleyball in Norfolk & Haldimand
🏐 What club volleyball looks like now (and why it’s becoming essential for high school)
🏐 How tournaments + U.S. competition are raising the level
🏐 Why coaching is the #1 need to keep growing
🏐 Beach volleyball at the Norfolk County Fairgrounds (18 courts!)
🏐 How kids can start — house league, rep tryouts, and beach

If you’re a parent with a Grade 7/8 athlete, or a coach who wants to get involved in the community, this one’s for you.

This episode is powered by Walker Mortgages.
Winter sports wrap up and a lot of families feel it — gas, hotels, team fees, away tournaments… it adds up fast. If you’re carrying balances on credit cards or a line of credit, we may be able to help you consolidate debt, lower monthly payments, and reduce stress heading into the next season.
Book a strategy call at www.mewithadam.ca

📩 Submit your team scores: hometownsportsnetwork.ca or email [email protected]
🙌 Nominate a Volunteer of the Month (win gear from The Folk + Blue Jays tickets from Walker Mortgages)

Like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments:
Are you Team Indoor or Team Beach?

#Volleyball #NorfolkChaos #NorfolkCounty #Haldimand #OntarioVolleyball #BeachVolleyball #YouthSports #HometownSportsNetwork #WalkerMortgages

In Episode 5 of the Hometown Sports Podcast, we sit down with Grace Mummery — provincial champion and NCAA softball player at Wheeling University. Grace breaks down her journey from hardball in Port Dover to college ball in the U.S., including the reality of recruiting (300+ emails), handling rejection, leveling up her mindset, and what it takes to earn your role at the next level. If you’re a young athlete (or a parent/coach), this episode is packed with real talk and practical advice.

Powered by Walker Mortgages — helping local families reduce financial stress with debt consolidation, lower monthly payments, and donations back to minor sports.

Girls hockey in Haldimand County is on the rise — and it’s not slowing down.

In this episode of Hometown Sports Network, we sit down with Haldimand River Cats President Jay Topp to talk about:

🏒 Growing from 3 teams to 15
🏒 200+ girls in the program
🏒 Building competitive A & B teams
🏒 Hosting their FIRST ever Winter Classic tournament
🏒 The impact of the PWHL and Olympic role models
🏒 Keeping hockey affordable for local families

Jay shares what it takes to build a girls hockey program the right way — development first, culture first, community first.

We also dive into:

• Why local ice time is a competitive advantage
• The balance between house league & rep
• The future vision for River Cats hockey
• Playoff teams to watch 👀
• The volunteers who make it all possible

This is what grassroots leadership looks like.

At Hometown Sports Network, we believe local athletes deserve coverage, recognition, and a platform — because what happens in our small towns matters.

If you care about girls hockey, minor sports, and building something bigger than the game… this one’s for you.

👇 Drop a comment and tell us:
Which River Cats team is making the deepest playoff run this year?

📩 Subscribe for weekly local athlete stories
📬 Sign up for the Hometown Sports newsletter
🎙️ New episodes every week

“Keeping local sports stories alive — one game at a time.”

#GirlsHockey #HaldimandRiverCats #OntarioHockey #MinorHockey #PWHL #HometownSports #CoachAdam #CommunityFirst

In this episode, Adam Walker and Adam Styles interview Holly VanNetten, a talented NCAA hockey player. They discuss her journey from minor hockey in Simcoe to playing at Mercyhurst University, her experiences in major tournaments, and the challenges of being a student-athlete. Holly shares insights about the importance of family support, the physical demands of NCAA hockey, and her aspirations for the future, including the growing opportunities in women's hockey with the PWHL. The conversation also touches on her early influences, memorable experiences, and the significance of teamwork and leadership in sports.takeaways

• Holly was raised at the rink, influenced by her family's hockey background.
• Transitioning from minor hockey to AAA boys was a significant step in her career.
• Winning the ESSO Cup was a pivotal moment in her hockey journey.
• The support from her family and coaches has been crucial to her success.
• Being an NCAA athlete requires a full-time commitment to both academics and sports.
• Physicality is a key aspect of playing at the NCAA level.
• Holly emphasizes the importance of sacrifices made for pursuing sports.
• The PWHL provides new opportunities for female hockey players.
• Holly's experiences in tournaments have shaped her confidence and skills.
• She aims to inspire younger players to pursue their dreams in sports.

In Episode 2 of the Hometown Sports Podcast, we sit down with Gary Lazou, President and GM of the Simcoe Gunners, to talk about the long-awaited return of senior hockey to Simcoe.

Gary shares the fascinating history behind the Gunners name (dating back to the early 1950s), why the timing is right to bring the team back, and how the plan is built around local players, local sponsors, and a community-owned model designed to avoid the pitfalls of past startups. We also break down what the OEHL (Ontario Elite Hockey League) looks like, what fans can expect on game nights at Talbot Gardens, and what needs to happen between now and May as the Gunners work through the league application process.

Plus: how the team is creating a true Saturday-night event, why the “wow factor” matters, and what to watch for next — including a documentary on Gunners history.

In this episode of the Hometown Sports Podcast, hosts Adam Walker, Adam Styles and Jacob Robinson engage with Taylor Buck, president of the Norfolk Knights Minor Hockey Association. They discuss the importance of local sports, the role of volunteers, and the challenges faced by minor hockey in the community. The conversation highlights the balance between competition and fun in youth sports, the impact of open borders on player retention, and the evolution of hockey skills. As Norfolk transitions to AA hockey, the hosts explore the implications for local players and the community's involvement in supporting youth sports. The episode concludes with insights on the upcoming playoffs and the future of hockey in Norfolk.