Flyers push Rockets to brink in series

By C. Scott Holland

LEAMINGTON — Once the playoff butterflies subsided,the Leamington Flyers got their offense going and defeated the Strathroy Rockets 4-2 in front of 947 fans here last Thursday night.

They followed that up on Saturday night in Strathroy, where the Flyers beat the Rockets 5-1, and then on Sunday afternoon the Flyers took the Rockets 5-1 at home for a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Prior to the start of the Thursday contest, the Flyers honoured volunteer Jerry Sleiman who retired from the local fire department after a 40-year firefighting career. The salute included highlights of Jerry’s career as both a firefighter and a valuable Flyers volunteer. Despite his firefighting days ending, he will remain a Flyers volunteer as their official home scorekeeper and occasional announcer.

Long-time volunteer Jerry Sleiman tips his hat to the fans last Thursday. Sleiman was honoured by the team after announcing his retirerment from the Leamington Fire Department.

SUN photo

In the first period, it was apparent that both teams had initial playoff jitters. The teams battled hard for puck possession and traded bodychecks.

Starting goalies Matthew Brazeau (Strathroy) and Ryan Polidori (Leamington) held their ground and stopped the pucks which came their way. The best chance the Flyers had arrived late in the period with a delayed penalty call on the Rockets. Polidori was lifted for an extra attacker and during a one-minute span, the Flyers controlled the play but did not score.

The ensuing penalty carried over into the second period and at 58 seconds Connor MacPherson and Gavin Grundner laid the groundwork for Wyatt O’Neil’s powerplay tally.

Two minutes later the Rockets knotted the score on Brandon Balasz’ bullet which hit the top corner. The Flyers’ big break came midway through the frame on another Rockets’ penalty. Colton O’Brien and Grundner shuffled the puck to Ryan MacPherson whose left lane screen shot handcuffed Brazeau and the Flyers had a 2-1 edge.

On the heels of that powerplay marker, Andrew Uturo whipped a slick pass across the Rockets’ goal crease and Darby Lemieux redirected it into the net’s open right side.

In the final 30 seconds of the second period, the Flyers went up 4-1 when Tuturo and Anthony Ciaramitaro set up Wyatt O’Neil’s second goal of the contest.

The Rockets got the only goal of the third as Polidori stopped 21 shots for the win while Brazeau halted 31.

On Saturday in Strathroy the Flyers built an early 2-0 lead before the Rockets cut that margin in half. Leamington outskated and outhit their opposition and added a few goals despite the Rockets attempts to score as the latter stages became a rough affair. The final was 5-1 for the Flyers. Scoring for the Flyers were Grundner who potted two, Uturo, Jack Cotter and O’Brien.

In Sunday’s afternoon’s contest, a smaller crowd of 563 watched as the Flyers fell behind 1-0, scoring five unanswered goals for the win. Connor MacPherson paced the club with two goals, while Grundner had one plus three helpers. Ryan MacPherson and Kale Couvillon netted one apiece.

The two teams faced off in Strathroy Tuesday, April 12. A Strathroy win would push the series to game five in Leamington on Thursday at 7:10 pm.

If Leamington gains the sweep, the Flyers will have a week off to prepare for their next opponent.