Leamington Flyers

Last updated
Leamington Flyers
LeamingtonFlyersLogo.png
City Leamington, Ontario, Canada
League Ontario Junior Hockey League
Founded1954
Home arena Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre
ColoursRed and White
  
Owner(s) Cam Crowder – Jason Melo – Craig Mahon – Dan Jancevski – David Halliwill
General managerJustin Solcz
Head coachDale Mitchell
Affiliate Flint Firebirds (OHL) [1]

The Leamington Flyers are a junior ice hockey team based in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. Prior to 2023 they played in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. They are an affiliate of the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds. [2]

Contents

History

Flyers goalie during 2013-14 season. Leamington Flyers goalie 2013.jpg
Flyers goalie during 2013–14 season.

Bill Burgess, coach and general manager of the local Intermediate Flyers, formed the Junior Flyers in 1954. They were a Junior B team in the Southwestern League until 1958 when they quit the league.

The Flyers were a part of the BCJBHL 1958 until 1964. When the OHA allowed the Border Cities League to fail in 1964, the town mothballed the junior team and operated a top-notch juvenile team in its stead. In 1966, the team operated as an independent team, playing only in OHA playdowns and exhibition against local all-star, juvenile, and intermediate teams. In 1967, they joined the Western Junior B League. They entered the new Border Cities league in 1968. When the league became the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League in 1970, the Flyers stayed on board. The Flyers were promoted to the Western Junior "B" league in 1992 and are still a charter member.

Flyers player during 2013-14 season. Leamington Flyers player.jpg
Flyers player during 2013–14 season.

On January 3, 1993, the Leamington Flyers helped set a record for the highest scoring tie in the history of the Western Ontario Hockey League by tying the London Nationals 11–11. The Flyers hold the record for the most lopsided game in the history of the WOHL. On January 20, 1995, the Flyers defeated the Windsor Bulldogs by a score of 30–3. On January 26, 2002, the Flyers set the WOHL record for largest margin in a shutout victory by defeating the Aylmer Aces by a score of 16–0.[ permanent dead link ]

Flyers goalie during 2014-15 season on the road. Leamington Flyers goalie red 2014.jpg
Flyers goalie during 2014–15 season on the road.

On Tuesday March 16, 2010, the Leamington Flyers hired Head Coach Tony Piroski. Previously, as coach of the Essex 73's, Piroski won seven Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League championships and three Clarence Schmalz Cups in nine seasons.

In Piroski's first season the team went from 7 wins to 26 wins, losing Game 7 in overtime to the Lasalle Vipers. In spring 2011 the Flyers brought aboard OHL scout Mike Sadler as the club's general manager.

On May 11, 2015, General Manager Mike Sadler stepped down from the organization. Kevin Hopper takes over as the team General Manager.

April 2, 2018, owner Abe Fehr announced that he had sold the team to five local businessman, Jason Melo, Dan Jancevski, Cam Crowder, David Halliwill & Craig Mahon. Eight-year Head Coach Tony Piroski also announced he would not be returning to the team. In eight seasons under Piroski the Flyers had a record of 262–108–31 (a .692 winning percentage) in 401 regular-season games with the Flyers and took the team to the conference final four-straight years with two titles.

April 10, 2018, Cam Crowder was named head coach of the Leamington Flyers. Starting the season with only 10 returning players, Leamington stumbled out of the gate with a 12–8–1–2 record. Following a shocking trade of their top two scorers Maddux Rychel and Griffin Robinson, Leamington went on to finish the regular season 21–4–1–1 and claim the Western Conference regular season title. Leamington played Strathroy in the first round and clinched the series 4–1. Moving on to the conference semifinals Leamington played a tightly contested playoff series coming back from a 1–3 deficit defeating the Komoka Kings on home ice to clinch the series 4–3. In the Western Conference finals the young Flyers team were out matched by a veteran London Nationals team, and were swept 0–4.

Although the season ended in disappointment, Leamington had a very successful season having multiple award winners. Adam Jeffrey Top Rookie Scorer, Ryan Gagnier Rookie of the year, Levi Tetrault Defenceman of year, Zach Borgiel Goalie of year, and Cam Crowder being named coach of the year.

The current version of the Leamington Flyers led by Cam Crowder and General Manager Justin Solcz, take great pride in competing for the Sutherland cup while developing players for higher levels of hockey. The 2018–19 team moved on two players to major junior ( Ryan Gagnier Oshawa Generals and Colton O'Brien Quebec Remparts), and four players to tier II.

The Leamington Flyers and the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds announced an affiliation agreement in June 2019 prior to the 2019–2020 season. [3]

In the 2022–23 season the Flyers finished the regular season with a record of 35–11–4 for a total of 72 points finishing first in the Western Conference. In the playoffs the Flyers swept the Sarnia Legionnaires and the LaSalle Vipers before defeating the St. Marys Lincolns 4–1 in the Western Conference finals. The Flyers went 2–2 in the Sutherland Cup Round Robin which was enough to advance to the Sutherland Cup Championship Series against the Stratford Warriors. The series went the full seven games and in the seventh and final game on May 9, the Flyers defeated the Warriors 4–0 to capture the franchises first Sutherland Cup. Following the victory, on May 17 the Flyers announce they would be leaving the GOJHL and would be joining the Junior A level Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2023–24 season. [4]

Season-by-season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPResultsPlayoffs
1958–59205141–67103114th BCJBHL
1959–60296230–109181126th BCJBHL
1960–61297220–105223147th BCJBHL
1961–623013170–132156265th BCJBHL
1962–633611250–134203226th BCJBHL
1963–642816120–139147323rd BCJBHL
1964–67No League, Dropped to Bluewater Juvenile
1967-68 515460–160355105th WOJBHL
1968–69302181–171119432nd BCJHL
1969–70342392–159104482nd BCJHL"C" Champions
1970–71403082–247133622nd GLJHL
1971–723620124–209169442nd GLJHLWon League
Won CSC
1972–73423462–298148702nd GLJHLWon League
1973–744319204–184193426th GLJHLWon League
1974–75422598–220129582nd GLJHL
1975–764226133–235173553rd GLJHL
1976–774222164–201166482nd GLJHL
1977–784221165–204206473rd GLJHL
1978–794015196–226223366th GLJHL
1979–80423642–344156741st GLJHLWon League
Won CSC
1980–814228104–328180602nd GLJHLWon League, lost CSC Semi-final
1981–823926103–264192552nd GLJHL
1982–83392982–331154621st GLJHLWon League, lost CSC Semi-final
1983–844019165–180170435th GLJHLWon League, lost CSC Semi-final
1984–853915204–171202347th GLJHL
1985–864013207–205252337th GLJHL
1986–8738231221240163494th GLJHL
1987–8839261030247157551st GLJHL
1988–893829810259143594th GLJHL
1989–9040211342194176484th GLJHL
1990–9139182100157183368th GLJHL
1991–92421325221632323010th GLJHL
1992–9352152755––405th WOJHL West
1993–9452361402293213741st WOJHL West
1994–9552371104320199782nd WOJHL West
1995–9652341062303202761st WOJHL WestLost final
1996–9752311335276198701st WOJHL WestLost final
1997–9852291931189171622nd WOJHL West
1998–995244503276142911st WOJHL West
1999–0054361404250183763rd GOHL
2000–0154242442176187546th GOHL
2001–0254361521276172752nd WOJHL
2002–034837812231131771st WOJHL
2003–0448281811178151584th WOJHL
2004–0548202035166179486th WOJHL
2005–0648103314110196259th WOJHLDNQ
2006–07481728–3159199378th WOJHLLost quarter-final
2007–08482521–2187191526th GOJHL-WLost Conf. Quarter-final
2008–09522819–5184170615th GOJHL-WLost Conf. Quarter-final
2009–1050738–5128276198th GOJHL-WLost Conf. Quarter-final
2010–11512621–4183162566th GOJHL-WLost Conf. Quarterfinals, 3–4 (LaSalle)
2011–12513017–4214163642nd GOJHL-WLost Conf. Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Strathroy)
2012–13513216–3185152672nd GOJHL-WWon Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Sarnia)
Lost Conf. Semifinal, 1–4 (London)
2013–14493710–2232120761st GOJHL-WWon Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (St. Marys)
Won Conf. Semifinal, 4–1 (London)
Won Conf. Finals, 4–1 (Chatham)
Lost Sutherland Cup Semifinals, 1–4 (St. Catharines)
2014–1549389–2210130781st GOJHL-WWon Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Lambton Shores)
Won Conf. Semifinal, 4–2 (London)
Won Conf. Finals, 4–2 (LaSalle)
Lost Sutherland Cup Semifinals, 1–4 (Caledonia)
2015–16504181020095831st of 9-W
3rd of 26-GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (St. Marys)
Won Conf. Semifinals 4–2 (Chatham)
Lost Conf. Finals 2–4 (London)
2016–1750271616163140614th of 9-W
12 of 27-GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Sarnia)
Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–2 (LaSalle)
Lost Conf. Finals, 1–4 (London)
2017–1850311153202142702nd of 9-W
7th of 26-GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Kings)
Lost Conf. Semifinal 3–4 (Stars)
2018–1948331023193122711st of 9 -W
3rd of 26 GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Strathroy)
Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–3 (Kings)
Lost Conf Finals, 0–4 (London)
2019–205038912225132792nd of 9 -W
3rd of 26 GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Kings)
Incomplete Conf. Semifinals, 1–0 (Lincolns)
'Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19
2020–21Season Lost due to COVID-19 pandamic
2021–2248361200194119721st of 9 -W
3rd of 25 GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Strathroy)
Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–2 (Lincolns)
Lost Conf Finals, 2–4 (Chatham)
2022–2350351140217121721st of 9 -W
6th of 25 GOJHL		Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Sarnia)
Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–0 (LaSalle)
Won Conf Finals, 4–1 (Lincolns)
Round Robin 2–2 (Hamilton)(Stratford)
(Advance to finals)
Won League Finals, 4–3 (Warriors)

2022–23 coaching staff

Sutherland Cup appearances

2023: Leamington Flyers defeated Stratford Warriors 4-games-to-3

Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances

1972: Leamington Flyers defeated Cobourg Cougars 4-games-to-1
1980: Leamington Flyers defeated Bradford Blues 4-games-to-none

Notable alumni

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References

  1. ↑ "Firebirds announce affiliation with Leamington Flyers".
  2. ↑ "Firebirds announce affiliation with Leamington Flyers".
  3. ↑ "Firebirds announce affiliation with Leamington Flyers".
  4. ↑ "OJHL Announces Leamington Flyers as New Expansion Team". Leamington Flyers. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
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