Flyers clinch first place despite losses to St. Thomas

By C. Scott Holland

Playing a lower seeded team three times in the space of a week is not easy and for the Leamington Flyers, the St. Thomas Stars have become a thorn in their side as they seek to solidify first-place.

It was hard enough getting past the Stars on Family Day and yet on a night when the team’s grads were honoured prior to the contest, the Flyers were handed a 5-1 defeat. The loss complicated the top of the West Division standings and first-round playoff opponents are still unknown.

For the 758 fans in attendance, the contest’s outcome was a letdown. Flyers’ starting goalie Boe Piroski may have suffered one of the worst defeats of his junior career. He made 13 saves of the 18 shots he faced. The Stars’ Connor Brandford halted 35 of 36.

“We stunk from the drop of the puck,” said coach Dale Mitchell. “I really hope this is a oneoff before we head into playoffs. We have two big games to correct ourselves.”

The Stars and Flyers were scoreless until the final minute of the opening period when Andrew Seminara put the first puck past Piroski. The Flyers outshot the Stars 11-4 in the first.

In the second, it appeared as though the Flyers’ offense might breakthrough the armour of St. Thomas starter Connor Bradford.

Nick Mahy and Hayden Reid set up Connor MacPherson who popped a shot past Bradford. That was the only tally Bradford would allow.

Two Flyers’ penalties — one to Cody Brekke and another to Koen Taves — gave the Stars all the momentum they would need as they broke the 1-1 deadlock and notched two powerplay goals and grabbed a 3-1 lead by the end of the second.

The Flyers’ offense had no problem penetrating the Stars’ zone but Bradford either denied them or they wasted some scoring chances.

The Stars added two more goals in the third to ice the victory.

The Flyers defense battled hard on Friday night in St. Marys and got some timely offense as they gained a precious two points from a 4-3 victory. Scoring for the Flyers were Connor MacPherson with a hattrick and Griffin Grundner.

On Sunday the Flyers played their final game at St. Thomas and lost 5-1 despite pounding 41 shots at starter Connor Bradford. Flyers’ starter Boe Piroski made 20 saves.

The lone Flyers’ marker came in the last second of the second period when Adrian Bosev’s tally broke the shutout. Fortunately the game was meaningless other than serving as a prep for playoffs. Leam- ington secured first-place Saturday when their first round opponent Sarnia beat London 4-3.

The first round of playoffs will see Sarnia meet Leamington, St. Thomas face London, Strathroy versus St. Marys, and Chatham against LaSalle. Playoffs for the Flyers start Thursday, March 2 at 7:10 pm in Leamington.

The Leamington Flyers honoured their four overage players whose regular season junior careers have come to an end. A short ceremony was held prior to last Thursday night’s contest vs St. Thomas. From left are goaltender Bryce Walcarius, Cody Brekke, Owen Holmes and Thomas Grossi. Scott Holland photo