Leamington Flyers look to take the next big step
Leamington team returns to GOJHL action with strong goaltending and potent offence
The way we play, we’re not worried about our offence. We know it will come ... We’re headed in the right direction.
The Leamington Flyers will try to better last year’s surprise run to the Western Conference final in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The Flyers underwent a major rebuild last season, but it didn’t stop the club from reaching the final for a fourth straight season.
“We got to the final, which was sort of unexpected,” Flyers head coach Tony Piroski said.
“I thought they really grew last year as individuals and players.
“Naturally, with the way they improved, if they make another step this year it will be that much better.”
Leamington plays its home opener on Thursday against the LaSalle Vipers, who the Flyers upset in the semifinals to reach the final last season. Game time at the Kinsmen Recreation Complex is 7:10 p.m.
“Home opener is always special,” Flyers captain Zach Guilbeault said. “You get family and friends coming out and with it being against LaSalle makes it a little more special. We’re looking forward to having a good year.”
The Flyers broke in two new goalies last season in Noah Hedrick and Connor Meyerink, who combined for the second-lowest goalsagainst average in the league. Each was solid as Leamington opened the season with two wins at the showcase event in Brantford.
“Our goaltending is back, which is a big plus for us,” Piroski said.
“They could each be a No. 1 for another team.
“I think they’re the best tandem in the league. They push each other. They’ll both gets lots of work and play in big games.”
That experience in net could be key with the Flyers only returning three veterans on defence in Jaydon Fetter, Parker Jacques and Kade McKibbin.
Six-foot-five, 220-pound Bryce O’Brien spent time in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and his younger brother Colton O’Brien will also get time on defence along with Andrew Thoms.
“We’re actually very young back there,” Piroski said.
Offensively, Guilbeault is back for a fourth season while the Flyers expect second-year forward Griffin Robinson to take another step with veterans Blake Bain and Josh Pope-Ferguson also back.
The Flyers swung a trade with LaSalle to bring in Maddux Rychel and Dalton Langlois. The club also picked up Cody Schneider in a deal with Strathroy.
The Windsor native had 22 goals last year for Strathroy, but is
back home to attend school. Leamington will add several young faces up front in Americans Kenny Styles and Nathan Skulley, while Jake Nimmo moves up from junior C Lakeshore and Dalton Langlois from junior C Essex.
Leamington native Rory DiNiro played junior A for Aurora last season while Preston Corp and Dylan Weston, who played for the Windsor midget major team, will also see time along with Stephane Crevier, who was an OHL pick in April by the Saginaw Spirit.
“The way we play, we’re not worried about our offence,” Guilbeault said.
“We know it will come ... We have a lot of young guys with a lot of skill and it will take time. What we saw last weekend (in Brantford) is we’re headed in the right direction.”