From Vision to Reality: the Harvesters first season. 

By Adriana McGinnis
North Simcoe Springwater News, March 12, 2026 Edition 723

The Elmvale Harvesters saw their inaugural season come to an end this past weekend after falling in four games to the Minto 81’s in Round 2 of the Ontario Elite Hockey League playoffs.

The series opened on February 28 in Palmerston where the Harvesters battled hard but came up just short in a 3–2 loss. Noah Featherstonhaugh-Gowe was named first star in the Will Marshall Insurance Broker Three Stars of the Game, with Jordan Fuller earning second star honours and Austin Pope named third star.

Game two shifted to Elmvale on March 1, where Minto took a 5–2 victory. In the Will Marshall Insurance Broker Three Stars of the Game, Ted Nichol of Minto was named first star, Ryan Hackett earned second star for the Harvesters, and Minto’s Jordan Alexander was named third star.

Back in Palmerston on March 7, the Harvesters once again showed determination but ultimately fell 6–4. In the Will Marshall Insurance Broker Three Stars of the Game, Minto’s Ted Nichol was named first star, while Elmvale’s Derek Sweeney and Andrew Best were named second and third stars respectively.

Facing elimination, the Harvesters returned home for a do-or-die Game 4 on Sunday, March 8 in Elmvale. Minto secured the series with an 8–1 win to close out the matchup, with all three of the Will Marshall Insurance Broker Three Stars of the Game awarded to Minto players.

While the result wasn’t what the Harvesters had hoped for, the end of the series also marks the close of a historic inaugural season for the Harvesters in the Ontario Elite Hockey League.

From the very first puck drop in October, the team began building a list of memorable “firsts” for the young franchise. The Harvesters recorded their first win in team history on October 3 in Saugeen Shores, winning in a shootout after a 5–5 game. Jordan Fuller scored the shootout winner, while Noah Featherstonhaugh-Gowe earned the victory in goal. The team’s first goals in franchise history came from Jordan Fuller, Ryan Young, Jacob Kelly, and Dylan Palomaki, with Kelly scoring twice in the game.

The season also featured other memorable moments, including Ryan Young scoring the Harvesters’ first Teddy Bear Toss goal, and the team capturing its first playoff series victory with a four-game sweep of the Georgian Bay Applekings in Round 1.

From the very first puck drop at Elmvale Arena, the support from the community was nothing short of incredible. Night after night, fans packed the stands, creating an atmosphere that quickly became one of the most exciting places to watch hockey in the league. Off the ice, the players developed a family among themselves while also connecting with the community, attending events such as the Elmvale Fall Fair, the Santa Claus Parade, and the Family Day Public Skate.

The organization would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the players and coaching staff for their dedication and commitment throughout the season. Their hard work laid the foundation for what promises to be a strong future for Harvesters hockey.

The team would also like to recognize the many volunteers, sponsors, and members of the executive who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the first season possible. Launching a new franchise takes an incredible amount of effort, and the success of year one would not have been possible without the many people who stepped up to support the team.

Most importantly, thank you to the fans. Your energy, encouragement, and unwavering support helped make this inaugural season one to remember. What started as a vision among the founding members has quickly grown into something bigger than anyone could have imagined, with the Elmvale community embracing the Harvesters and helping turn a dream into reality.

Although the playoff run has come to an end, the excitement surrounding Harvesters hockey is just beginning. With the foundation now in place, the organization looks forward to building on the momentum of year one and returning even stronger next season.