Following the first update of the now series looked at the first 2 seasons of Highlanders hockey, with a few pointers of things to watch out for during the last season and the seasons to come. With this in mind, let’s look back at the Season 79 retrospect and ahead at Season 80 with what to be on the lookout for. 

We last ended wondering about a few key points, most notably Newton Campbell’s blocked shots record which had been standing since S76, the total points leaderboard and both goals and assists. 

Season 79 – Looking Back

Campbell’s record held for another season, with the rising rookie Empoleon unable to match his previous season’s promising tally of 187, having to settle for 156. While this may be a sign of things to come in Master Empoleon’s hunt for the record, he still bested his teammates in this category. Will he improve his mark? Or will we see a new challenger to Newton’s holding feat?

On the points front, Hockey Player had been highlighted as a king to be crowned, with a final season in teal and burgundy to build off what had been a very strong season 78. Though he would nearly match his previous tally, Player wasn’t the one shining in 79, that belonged to Easton Schaffer. While he did not beat Pique Boo’s single-season record of 87, he tied it, and all signs point to a solid outgoing season that would see one of the best to don the Highlander best all previous marks in what could turn out to be an all-time season.

In other categories that hadn’t been mentioned, a few records were beaten. A reflection of the great point production season he had, Easton beat Hockey Player’s assist season, edging it out by a single extra assist with 54. His teammate, Peyton Campeau, tied the record himself. Furthermore, while he couldn’t match or beat the point record, Hockey Player shattered the 36-goal tally Pique Boo had in season 77, notching 43 goals over the season. A very honorable mention to Spaceman Spiff who also reached 40 goals, beating the previous record, but falling a couple goals short of his teammate. With a last season in the bank, Spiff still could take ownership of the record.

We steer off into a brand-new category of stats tracked. With what can only be described as an oddity season, the season 79 roster was firing on all cylinders when shorthanded, not only killing penalties successfully, but scoring goals as well. All in all, 19 goals were scored while down a man, with Clarence Worley and Peyton Campeau leading the charge with 5 a piece, and Easton Schaffer not far behind with 4 of his own. Safe to say, the latter two are the new record holders, tying a mark previously established in season 66 by Benji Hockiwi and yet unmatched.

The last notable record to be beaten was done by Jaquavion Tavius, beating a mark that nobody expected to be beaten, not before a while at least considering the lack of consistency in roster strength. The rookie outdid Demir Bellona’s 6.00 GA/TA ratio, setting the new record at 6.27. A mark that stood for 2 full seasons after it was set, it will be interesting to see if as the team stabilizes, its challenged a bit more.

Season 80 – Looking Ahead

As the doors open for Ottawa’s 5th season as an SMJHL franchise, there is one name to be predominantly on the lookout for : Easton Schaffer. After establishing a few single season records last season, will he be able to outdo his season 79 success, claiming the points record in full? We also turn our sights to what could be a season for the ages, as PEI native looks to grab a hold of not one, not two, not three, not even four, but five all-time records : all-time goals, all-time assists, all-time points, all-time powerplay assists and all-time powerplay points. This would add to the three records he already holds for shots, hits and penalty minutes. While the latter might not be as glorious, its one nonetheless! Here’s what he needs to hit to gain all of them:

- All-time goals : 36;
- All-time assists: 30;
- All-time points: 66;
- All-time powerplay assists: 5;
- All-time powerplay goals : 24. 

Of the five, the last one is the least likely to be beat, considering his best single-season mark was 10, which he did twice. Hockey Player’s 97 powerplay goals are likely to stand. The other 4 are all highly likely Schaffer’s to lose, and season 80 will be a great milestone season for all Ottawa fans!

Important to mention that last season’s successes bode well for new records to be broken and fun times to be had. With a new crop of rookies looking to make a splash, it’ll be more than interesting to see what kind of season they’re able to take, with important roles in the lineup needing to be filled. Will they set themselves up for a record-breaking J career?  More to come!