Flyers are champs of the west; await Sutherland series

By C. Scott Holland

On Thursday, April 6, the Leamington Flyers completed one quest of the 2022-23 playoffs. They beat the St. Marys Lincolns 3-1 to take the fifth game of the series and capture the West Conference (Bill Weir) trophy as the playoff champions.

The scenario had been set Tuesday night when they lost a heartbreaker 3-1 in St. Marys after leading 1-0 for 54 minutes.

The Lincolns evened the score and then took a 2-1 lead on a powerplay goal. They added an empty-net tally in the final when the Flyers had lifted starter Bryce Walcarius for an extra attacker.

Owen Holmes notched the lone Flyers’ goal in the second period.

With the stage set, the Flyers hosted the Lincolns for game five last Thursday at the Highbury Canco arena, which was filled with 1,546 fans — the majority of whom supported the Flyers.

From the start, the crowd chants began and while the Flyers dominated the opening 20 minutes of play, it was scoreless.

The Flyers continued to dominate and tabbed the all-important first goal 57 seconds into the second period when Owen Holmes deposited the handiwork of Ryan MacPherson and Connor MacPherson into an open side of the net.

At 5:18, the Flyers put a second goal up as Trevor LaRue and Anthony Ciaramitao’s hard work left Hayden Reid with a rebound that was shovelled past starter Mateo Lalama.

What was certainly the prettiest play of the night came when Owen Holmes initiated a twoon-one play with the two MacPhersons leading a rush on which Connor MacPherson caught brother Ryan MacPherson’s pass and banked it past Lalama for a convincing 3-0 lead.

Heading into the third period and ahead 3-0, the Flyers’ classic defense mode took over while

Bruce Walcarius stopped shot after shot and only relinquished one goal. That tally came at the end of a Lincolns’ powerplay midway through the third and posed no threat.

When the final 10 seconds reeled off the clock, the crowd was roaring with joy and the celebration began.

Mateo Lalama finished the game with 30 saves, while Walcarius made 32.

Head coach Dale Mitchell was as elated as anyone. “I am extremely happy for everyone,” he said. “I am thankful to the owners for giving me the opportunity to coach this group. And I am happy for the all the fans and volunteers who have supported us, not only at home but on the road as well.”

Mitchell went on to praise his team. “Last but not least, the players for battling and sacrificing their bodies all season and reaching a goal we set for ourselves from day one,” he added. “The entire team and town should be forever grateful to those young men.”

It was Leamington’s third time winning the Bill Weir Trophy.

Goaltender Bryce Walcarius was named the West Playoff MVP and teammate Ryan MacPher-son was the West’s top playoff scorer with 21 points (7 g., 14 a.).

Walcarius’ record was elevated to 11-1 with a 1.41 gaa.

The Flyers will start their quest for the Sutherland Cup on the road in

Stratford on Friday, April 14, with game two against Hamilton in Leamington on Sunday, April 16 at 5:10 pm. The top two seeds of the round-robin will then meet for the Sutherland Cup.

Flyers goalie Bryce Walcarius hoists the Bill Weir Trophy after the game.

The Leamington Flyers celebrate their game 5 win over the St. Marys Lincolns on Thursday, April 6. With the win, the Flyers advance to the Sutherland Cup round-robin playoff. Scott Holland photos