Sweet repeat for Flyers in 2014-15

By C. Scott Holland

After winning the West playoff crown in 2013-14, the Flyers turned around and won again the following year by rallying to overcome deficits.

With first-place secured, the journey began by easily defeating the eighth-place Lambton Shores Predators, who managed to get only one goal past the Flyers’ netminding duo of Trevor Wheaton and Michael Barrett.

That lone tally came late in the third period of the second contest.

Th Flyers blanked the Preds three times — 3-0, 5-0 and 8-0. The highlight of that first series came in a penalty-riddled third contest when a large brawl erupted.

The second round was versus a perennial opponent — the London Nationals.

The strengths of each were evident, but the Flyers prevailed by winning the series 4-2. The Flyers went down 2-0 in the first game but fought back and sent the game to OT but in the second extra frame London’s Tanner Ferreira ended it at 3:27. At London for game two, they would get blanked as Justin Tugwell halted 43 Flyers’ attempts.

A close 2-1 win at home was a thriller and Mitch Amante, who opened the scoring, was given a penalty shot late in the third but his shot was stopped.

In the next game, the Flyers shutout the Nats 2-0. Michael Barrett got the shutout.

Game five had 1,100 fans present and the Flyers Matthew Opblinger tabbed a shorthanded tally to win it 5-4.

Up 3-2 in the series, the Flyers closed it out by downing the Nats 5-2 as Tyler Duarte notched a hattrick. One London player was handed a match penalty for attempting to injure a Flyer.

A dream match-up followed for the finals as the Flyers would face the La- Salle Vipers.

Over 1,500 fans were at the opener and watched the Flyers double the Vipers 6-3.

In game two, Eric Henderson shone by scooping two goals to pace the 3-2 victory.

Back at home for game three, the home team would fall behind early but fought their way back to knot the game as Colin Moore notched the tying goal at 4:10 of the third. However Brett Langlois would score at 9:10 of OT and the Flyers suffered a 3-2 loss.

Mitch Amante led the team to a 3-1 victory but in game four the Flyers fell behind early and never recovered. Amante tabbed the lone Flyers’ goal.

In the critical game six, the two teams were tied 1-1 at the end of 20 minutes but Cale Phibbs and Matthew Opblinger thrust the Flyers into a 3-1 lead.

Nathan Savage would put the heat on with a powerplay tally and the Vipers’ Conor Rosassen had a glorious chance to even the score on a penalty shot at 5:05 of the third.

However, Rosassen’s attempt was halted by Trevor Wheaton, who stopped 25 shots for a 3-2 victory and allowed Leamington to claim their second Bill Weir Cup. Members of the team were Trevor Wheaton, Michael Barrett, J. P. Grineau, Ryan Muzzin, Blaine Bechard, Jacob McGhee, Tyler Duarte, Ryan Shipley, Cale Allen, Cale Phibbs, Eric Henderson, Colin Moore, Matthew Opblinger, Zach Guilbeault, Mitch Amante, Alex Friessen, Chris Scott, Kyle Perkowski, Thomas Virban, Zac Parlette, Joe Ogden, Kyle Quick, plus APs Travis Campbell, Mitchell Crevatin and Alex Derksen.

Among the staff were GM Mike Sadler, assistant GM Kevin Hopper, head coach Tony Piroski, assistant coaches Lee Jones, Jamie McDerott, Anthony Iaquinta, Branden Robitaille, Ron Soucie, trainer: Dr. Steve O’Neil, and equipment managers Ryan Sellon and John Forbes.