Flyers and Milton split first two games of series

After a close season series, the Leamington Flyers and Milton Menace continue their challenge, battling for a spot in the West Conference finals. 

The Flyers have proven they belong in the Ontario Junior Hockey League while the Menace are a seasoned veteran squad whose talent and ability have risen during the last few seasons.

The action of the first two contests was fast paced and it was the visiting team that claimed the victories as Leamington won 4-3 in the second overtime of the opener on Friday before Milton took a 3-1 regulation win here on Sunday. 

Head coach Dale Mitchell reflected on the two contests. “I really liked our game in Milton. We battled back from being down two goals and I thought we created a lot of chances,” he said. “In game two, we started too slow and tried to play catch up, which doesn’t work in playoffs.”

In game one on Friday night, March 22, the two-goal deficit occurred quickly as the Menace scored twice from a nearly identical spot as two shots from the right faceoff circle beat Sebastian Gatto in a span of eight seconds. 

Before the period ended, the Flyers cut the score to 2-1 when Cayden Faust netted a rebound and beat Milton goalie Forbes Anderson. 

In the second period, while on a powerplay, Landon Bernard was parked by Anderson’s right post and intercepted a puck coming from behind the net before slipping it into the open side. 

With the contest tied at 2-2, Cam Arquette benefited from his own hard work as he forced the puck to pop out in front of Anderson from behind the net and caught Anderson off guard to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead. 

That lead didn’t last long as the Menace tied it on a powerplay of their own less than one minute later.

During the next 35 minutes, both teams jockeyed to score but neither was successful until 3:08 of the second overtime when Brayden Degelas picked off a low pass from behind the Milton net and drilled the game-winner. 

Sunday, March 24, in front of 1,170 fans here, the Flyers faltered in the opening period as Milton tabbed two goals and made that margin stand until the third when the Flyers finally scored. A giveaway allowed Connor Driscoll a goal just 57 seconds into the game. A second giveaway created another Milton goal midway through the period.

The Flyers’ lone tally came when Nathan Leek exited the penalty box and went on a breakaway, drilling a shot past Milton starter Glen Crandall. Down 2-1 and with starter Sebastian Gatto lifted for an extra attacker in the final minutes, Leamington surrendered an empty-net goal to Milton which sealed the outcome at 3-1. 

Game three was being played Tuesday night in Milton, well after press time for the paper.

Schedule: Game 4 Thurs. Mar. 28 vs Milton at 7:10 pm; Game 5 Sat. Mar. 30 at Milton at 6:30 pm; Game 6 Mon. Apr. 1 vs Milton at 7:10 pm (if necessary); Game 7 Wed. Apr. 3 at Milton at 7 pm (if necessary).