Flyers double Nationals, lose heartbreaker to Maroons

By C. Scott Holland

Whenever the Leamington Flyers play the London Nationals, fans know they are watching two teams that will show quality hockey. Such was the case in a very different type of contest between the two rivals here last Thursday.

Instead of a low scoring affair, both sides came out with guns ablazing and when the smoke had cleared the Flyers had won 8-4.

The Nats struck first early in the first period, but Leamington’s Wyatt O’Neil responded to tie the game less than two minutes later. The Nationals took another lead on the powerplay at 11:09 before the Connor MacPherson scored his first of three to knot the score again.

The Flyers pulled away in the second on goals by Luka Milesovic, Seth Martineau and MacPherson, who completed his hattrick with two.

After two, the Flyers led by a 7-2 score.

Jason Daraiche’s empty net goal sealed the victory for Leamington late in the third after the Nationals scored twice.

Leamington Flyers’ #23 Seth Martineau fights for position in the crease while outnumbered by London Nationals in the Flyers’ 8-4 win here last Thursday.

Scott Holland photo

Flyers’ head coach Dale Mitchell realizes how every game presents a challenge and how his young club learns from both winning and losing.

“They took it to us for about 7-8 minutes in the second period and I was proud of the guys for weathering that storm,” he said. “Especially Polidori for holding down the house for that stretch to maintain our lead.”

On Saturday, October 9, the Flyers played in Chatham where they lost a heartbreaker after rallying to tie the game in the third period. The Maroons won 5-4 in regulation.

Chazz Nixon made his Flyers debut in goal. Outside of a Maroons’ three-goal surge in the second, Nixon played steadily to keep the Chatham club at bay. He had 33 saves in the contest, while counterpart Brenden Stroble stopped 34.

Gabe Piccolo and Connor McCracken scored second period goals for the Flyers. MacPherson scored 44 seconds into the third to tighten the score to 4-3 and then Julien Gervais tied the score 4-4 at 14:19.

Lucas Fancy beat Nixon just over a minute later for the game winner.

Flyers’ Schedule:

Thurs. Oct 14 - vs LaSalle 7:10 pm

Oct. 15 - at St. Marys 7:45 pm