Revisiting Flyers’ historic 1972 title run

By C. Scott Holland

For many of us, it is hard to believe that 50 years have elapsed since the Leamington Jr. C Flyers displayed a high-energy brand of hockey and won their first provincial title.

Under the leadership and guidance of coach Jim Butcher, the club embarked on what was a memorable journey, featuring the talents and contribution of many local players.

Those names are now legendary, with a couple of them finding their way to the National Hockey League.

That Flyers’ team was led by scoring champ Kris Manery (36 gp, 35 g., 54 a., 89 pts.) and Ken Cobby, who was as fierce a competitor as anyone could meet. Cobby amassed 124 penalty minutes to lead the team. Goalies John Moore and Chuck Turner formed a steady duo who could get the job done.

Playoffs did not start immediately, so the Flyers had to fill their time waiting for the winner of the Dresden Kings - Mooretown Flags series by playing a few exhibition contests versus a variety of opponents, including one against a group of their alumni. In the opening round, they faced the defending champion Dresden Kings and easily claimed the Great Lakes Jr. C crown and advanced to the Schmaltz Cup quarter-finals.

The quarter-final series was against the New Hamburg Hahns and featured one contest which ended as a tie — a rarity in playoff series since that era. The Flyers would take down the Hahns to get to the semis.

Things were a bit tougher in those semi-finals, as they found a worthy opponent in the Bracebridge Bears. The Flyers would win the series but not without tragedy happening.

1971/72 Flyers: Back row: Art Zarn, Ken Pearce, Dr. Bob McGee, Bob Derbyshire, Gord McDonald, Doug Wilson, Bill Ardiel, John Murphy, Greg Coulter. Middle row: Pat Ribble, Rod Bowman, Ken Cobby, Rob Johnston, Jeff Omstead, Terry Wiper, Brian Plumb, Stan Couture, Art Hickson, Rick Stickney, Dave Omstead, Steve Oulahen. Front row: Ted Hannigan, Jim Butcher, Doug Lamb, Bill Derbyshire, Chuck Turner, John Moore, Gary Hillier, Kris Manery, Jim Bradley and Ken Playford.

Photo courtesy of the Scott Holland Collection

After an April 4 contest in Bracebridge, several Leamington area fans who had chartered two planes to fly them from Windsor to Muskoka and back, took off from Muskoka.

One of the planes got lost during a snowstorm. The Piper Cherokee 140 crashed near Frome, about 15 miles southwest of London. Pilot Tom Weatherall and passengers Joe Cross, Harold Derbyshire and Paul Wilkinson all perished. The other plane landed safely in London. Perhaps it was that tragedy which fueled the team’s desire to fulfill their mission and win the cup.

In late April the only thing between them and the coveted title was the Coburg Cougars. Crowds swelled to nearly 2,000 and then in the final contest, the Leamington Arena jammed 2,273 into its confines. It was an attendance record for the venue at that time and they watched as the Flyers won the Schmaltz Cup with an 8-2 domination of the Cougars.

It was the first time that the Flyers won the provincial title and would be the start of many years as a powerhouse in the Great Lakes Jr. C loop.

Manery and Pat Ribble would go on to NHL careers and several others graduated to college ranks in the U.S.