ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia — Like many leagues around North America, it is back to business this season as everyone is pushing for a return to normality. The Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) is no exception to this.

However, while all of the league’s teams are certainly happy to be back in a routine, not all of them are off to an ideal start. This is just the case for the Abbotsford Pilots and their netminder, Emmett Dixon.

As a 15-year-old during the 2019-20 season, Dixon played in the B.C. Elite Hockey League for the Vancouver NE Chiefs, going 5-10-1 before the campaign was suspended and ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. After a long lockdown due to the pandemic, Dixon, now 17, has taken his game to PJHL, beginning his career with the aforementioned Abbotsford Pilots. However, both Dixon and the Pilots are off to a sluggish start.

Through 21 games, the Pilots sit next-to-last in the league’s Harold Brittain Conference with a 5-16-0 record. As for Dixon, his numbers aren’t ideal.

Through 13 games, the native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, is 3-9-0 with a goals-against average of 6.26 and a save percentage of 86.4%.

Skeptics would tend to look at these numbers and immediately jump to the irrational conclusion that the young netminder just isn’t very good. It is, however, crucial to emphasize “irrational.”

While his GAA and save percentage may not be anything to write home about, it is imperative to remember that Dixon is simply rebounding from a lockdown spurred on by a pandemic that has affected an entire planet, much less a community or a province. Plus, Dixon is just under 160 pounds. So, it is important to give the netminder some time to add some muscle to his 6-foot-2 frame.

Additionally, let us not forget that Dixon is playing in a new league at a new level, and anyone would feel out of their element when adjusting to a new setting.

The Pilots currently sit five points ahead of the last-place Surrey Knights and trail the Chilliwack Jets and Mission City Outlaws, both tied for fourth in the conference, by 11 points.

The PJHL season is still an early one, so expect to see some twists and turns along the way. That should include an overall improvement from the Pilots and an elevated level of play from Dixon, who may be down but is nowhere near out.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.