Flyers Blank Stars In Last Contest of 2021

By C. Scott Holland

LEAMINGTON — In an extremely fast-paced game on Dec.23, the Leamington Flyers jumped into a firstplace tie with the London Nationals by beating the St. Thomas Stars 4-0 in front of 255 fans here.

Flyers’ starter Boe Piroski had his best outing yet as he halted 41 shots while his counterpart Owen Willmore faced 31.

Despite the Stars outshooting the Flyers 18-9 in the opening frame, the Flyers got on the scoreboard first when Ryan Blackburn converted the handiwork of Sylvain Lessard and Luka Milosevic. That lone tally would stand as the eventual game-winner. Both sides traded offensive volleys as well as plenty of hard hitting.

It was late in the second when the Flyers added a second tally to put pressure on the Stars. That second goal also turned the contest into an end-to-end offensive gem. Flyers’ AP player Alec Webster shone and on the second goal he took Ryan MacPherson’s feed and banged the puck at Willmore during a goalmouth scramble. Initially Webster was credited with the marker, but a video replay showed it was Gavin Grundner who scored and Webster got the helper.

At 2:36 of the third, Boe Piroski passed the puck to Seth Martineau who connected with Grundner for a backhander from the left side of the St. Thomas net. The highlight of the shutout came with the fourth goal when Webster hooked up with Gabe Piccolo to set up a wide-open Connor MacPherson who was on the left doorstep of the Stars’ net and scored the final goal. From that juncture on, the Flyers played strong defensively to help Piroski earn the team’s first shutout of the campaign.

Due to Monday’s provincial announcement, the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre is closed as of today, Wednesday, January 5 for any hockey-related activities.

This will effectively pause the season for the Flyers, but an official announcement from the GOJHL was not yet available at press time.

It was busy around the Flyers net as Boe Piroski halts a St. Thomas scoring attempt with Luka Milosevic (66) handling Stars forward Tristen Roberts in the slot. Nolan McKibbin (20) chases the puck while Gavin Grundner (40) closes in on Tanner Dietz.

Scott Holland photo