By: Isabelle Bujold, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
The Bluebirds kicked off the regular season with high hopes, building on the momentum from last year, and finished with a record of 15 wins and nine losses.
Much of the team’s success can be credited to a few standout players. Forward Jake Durham, who joined from Alvinston at the trade deadline, quickly established himself as the other half of a 1-2 punch with Dylan Denomme up front. A dynamic, high-impact player, Durham brought an immediate offensive spark—especially in the postseason, where he scored an incredible 14 goals in 11 games.
Dylan Denomme, the team’s captain since the very beginning and a consistently strong offensive force, solidified that reputation by earning league MVP honours this year. He posted a jaw-dropping 142 points in 64 games.
On defence, Cole Butler and Zack Bedard have been staples for the past two seasons. From blocking shots to killing penalties, their reliability and physical presence have made them invaluable in all situations.
In the playoffs, the Bluebirds fought hard in the opening round, advancing in three games. Facing a tough opponent in the second round, they ultimately fell short against Tilsonburg, finishing their playoff run with a 4-2 record. While the exit was disappointing, the team showed promise and ended the season ranked fourth overall.
Assistant captain Adam Hughes reflected on the season’s ups and downs, emphasizing the importance of attention to detail and playing a complete game.
“We were much better defensively and played with more accountability in our own end,” said Hughes.
“After our playoff run, I think we really understand how the small things during a game can influence the outcome—being first on pucks, laying the body, and making smart plays at the bluelines.”
When asked about the team’s performance and playoff outcome, Hughes remained optimistic.
“We preached all year about how good we could be, and it really showed going into the final stretch of the season; we have top-end talent throughout our whole lineup,” he said. “It’s always tough losing in the playoffs, especially exiting in the second round for the third year, but we made a huge stride beating Tilsonburg in the first round. That really shows the growth of our team year over year.”
While the season didn’t end with a championship, the team took away several valuable lessons. One of the biggest, said Hughes, is that the Bluebirds are poised to be even more competitive next year.
“Even though we finished this year in sixth (in the regular season), there’s no doubt in any of our minds that we’re a top-three team in our league,” he said.
“We have a great core of guys and being able to experience the adversity and physicality of a playoff run together really sets the tone for a strong season next year. We know what it takes to compete—and win—at the top level in our league, and we’re right there.”
With that mindset, the Bluebirds are already looking ahead. The focus will be on building on this year’s foundation and striving for more consistency. The team and coaching staff have already started working on offseason strategies to bolster the lineup and fine-tune systems.
With a solid core returning, the goal remains the same: push deeper into the playoffs and capture the cup.
