Despite a tie and a loss in their final two games, the Leamington Flyers finished atop the West Conference of the Ontario Junior Hockey League standings and will face the Niagara Falls Canucks in the first round of the OJHL playoffs starting Thursday here.
In the Thursday, February 27 home game, the Flyers squandered a three-goal lead and two overtimes proved nothing as they gained a 4-4 tie with the visiting Markham Royals in front of 1,000 fans.
They followed that up Friday night with a 4-1 loss in Burlington.
Prior to Thursday’s game, the Flyers held a ceremony honouring their eight overage players: Marquis Brown, Owen Fergusson, Gavin Grundner, Dalton Kane, Owen MacDonald, Nick Mahy, Colton Smith and Marcus Vandenberg.
“Credit to them,” commented head coach Dale Mitchell post-game. “They never gave up and pushed us to the end. I am disappointed in the group for not closing out the game and recognizing the game script… We are fine though and have done a lot of good things and will build on that going into playoffs next week.”
After a scoreless opening frame in which the Flyers outshot the Royals 11-4, Leamington got on the board during a powerplay when Landon Bernard and Ethan Walker set up Colton Smith whose screen beat Markham starter Noah Cabellero at 3:31.
Cade Bell was given a unique chance when his own rebound popped onto his stick and he whisked it into the net for a 2-0 lead at 12:21.
The Flyers upped their lead to 3-0 on another powerplay when Smith and Walker laid the groundwork for Landon Bernard’s left side screen shot that bounced past Cabellero.
The Royals continued to play the Flyers hard and with 15 seconds left in the second went on a two-on-one breakaway and made it 3-1.
In the third, the Flyers placed 19 shots on Cabellero but could only reap a single goal.
Near the midway point of the third, Ashton Darocy found Gavin Grundner who unleashed a blast from the top of the slot that threaded its way into the net for a 4-1 edge.
During the last five minutes of regulation though, Markham gained momentum that began when Andrew Murray scored at 16:29 with a right lane bullet. Two minutes later, a defensive breakdown caused a three-on-one and Murray again netted a Royals’ goal to pull the visitors within one.
Markham lifted Cabellero for an extra attacker with 1:17 left and the Flyers wasted their chance to seal the win and the game with an empty-net goal.
The Royals roared back and scored with 20 seconds left to send the contest into four-on-four and then three-on-three five-minute overtime periods with neither team scoring.
In desperation to gain first overall in the OJHL, starter Connor Davis was lifted for an extra-attacker during the last two minutes, but once again Cabellero came up with some good saves and it ended in a tie.
Leamington outshot Markham 49-23.
On Friday night, the Flyers played their final regular season contest and lost a tough 4-1 battle to the Burlington Cougars in front of a small contingent of Flyers fans who made the trip.
The Flyers took a 1-0 lead at 6:31 of the first when Brody Cook scored.
The Cougars tabbed two powerplay goals on Marcus Vandenberg, who stopped 33 of 37 shots.
This past season saw many new Flyers and OJHL records set and among them Colton Smith winning the scoring title (95 points, 46 goals, 49 assits). Smith also scored at least one goal against each of the other teams.
Goalie Marcus Vandenberg had the most wins with 31 and the lowest goals against average with a 1.48 GAA.
A special tip of the hat goes out to faithful Flyers fan Mark Garroway who has not been well.
The Flyers playoff schedule has not been determined yet, but they will face the eighth place Niagara Falls Canucks at home on Friday, March 7 at 7:10 pm.
Pictured here are are Marcus Vandenberg, Owen Fergusson, Gavin Grundner, and Nick Mahy.
Photo by Scott Holland
