Leamington Flyers win on the road, lose two at home

Story and photos by C. Scott Holland 

The Leamington Flyers stumbled at home twice this past weekend while missing several key players. The visiting Mississauga Chargers out-hustled the Flyers for a majority of the Thursday, November 28 contest and escaped with a 3-2 victory. 

On Friday night, the Flyers whitewashed the Oakville Blades 3-0 in Oakville, then returned home Sunday where they lost 3-1 to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. 

The Flyers edged Mississauga 36-34 in shots during Thursday’s game but the Chargers put up 19 in the second, allowing them to break a 1-1 deadlock and surge to a 3-1 lead — one the Chargers never relinquished despite a late comeback bid by the home team.   

It was also the first home game for Flyers’ newcomer, 16-year-old Ryland Cunningham, who had been reassigned from the Flint Firebirds (OHL). 

“Ryland brings us some energy,” said Flyers head coach Dale Mitchell. “He is a young kid with lots of potential. We will continue to help his development so he gets back to the OHL.”  

“Our game against Mississauga is a combination result of our last five games,” added Mitchell. “We have not been playing good enough hockey for our level. We know we need to be better and have to bounce back from it.” 

Two key Flyers — Michael Denney and Gavin Grundner — were missing from the lineup and that was compounded further when defenseman Marquis Brown tangled with Charger Gavin Ramkissoon at 12:07 of the opening frame. Both players were assessed fighting penalties, game misconducts plus a minor penalty but Brown’s minor was for instigating the fight. They were sent to the showers. 

The Chargers’ Wyatt Jinman opened the scoring at 3:51 on a two-on-one play. The Flyers knotted the game at 11:59 when Ashton Darocy found Adrian Bosev open as he closed in on the left lane. Bosev drilled a shot that sailed high into the upper corner of the net to keep things even. 

At 1:45 of the second, Mississauga used another two-on-one situation this time with puck carrier Jinman dropping a pass to Nate Brentnell, whose shot eluded Flyers’ starter Tre Altiman. The decisive goal came at 16:27 when Charger Mason Kim found the back of the Flyers’ net. 

Despite putting 15 shots on the Chargers’ starter Hayden Sabourin during the second period and another 11 in the final frame, the Flyers made a game of it. Late in the third, Carter Gillen hooked up with Bosev who sent Brody Cook on a mission. Cook weaved through the Chargers’ defense and closed the gap at 17:21. Shortly thereafter, Leamington lifted Altiman for an extra attacker in an effort to gain the tying goal. However, Sabourin was up to the task and closed the door for a 3-2 win. 

Friday night in Oakville it was scoreless after one period, but Ethan Tatomir’s powerplay tally seven minutes into the second gave the Flyers the only goal they would need for the win. Tyler McGuire and Marquis Brown drilled goals in the third to complete the scoring. Marcus Vandenberg got the shutout making 27 saves. 

Sunday night at home versus the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Colton Smith gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead five minutes into the opening period and that goal allowed fans to toss pajamas onto the ice to support Lola’s Pajama Fairy Project.

 It was the lone marker the Flyers would get as the Canadiens tied the game over 10 minutes later. 

Knotted 1-1, the Canadiens tabbed one goal in the second and another single tally in the third to defeat Leamington 3-1. Marcus Vandenberg suffered the loss making 27 saves.