Flyers proving step up to OJHL was right move
First-year franchise has earned respect from league by going 8-1 so far in playoffs
The Leamington Flyers can claim victory before ever hitting the ice on Friday.
In their first season in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Flyers have already surpassed any reasonable expectations by reaching the Western Conference final against the defending league champion Collingwood Blues.
“It's been a pretty fun year considering it's our first year in the league,” said captain Cayden Faust, who returned home to play for the Flyers after two seasons with the Navan Grads in the Ottawa area. “We've done a good job of establishing ourselves.”
Heading into Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Friday in Collingwood, the Flyers have already shocked many in the OJHL by posting the fourth-best record in the 24-team league during the regular season at 34-15-5-3 and going 8-1 in the playoffs.
“I think initially, our big thing when we (moved to junior A) was to have local players stay home and give them a chance to get scholarships and move on, but also have success and winning,” the Flyers' Cam Crowder said. “We thought we could do both.”
Crowder is one of five co-owners of the team along with Jason Melo, Dan Jancevski, David Halliwill and Craig Mahon
“They're an amazing group,” Flyers head coach Dale Mitchell said. “The five always instil confidence. They're around and what's great is they understand the game.
“The expectation is they want to win, but they also know what we're up against this year. Any time you need to call, they're available.”
The ownership stability and knowledge only trickle down in the organization to Mitchell and general manager Justin Solcz. A two-time Memorial Cup champion with the Windsor Spitfires, Mitchell guided the Flyers to a junior B Sutherland Cup title last year along with Solcz, who was named the OJHL'S general manager of the year in his first season in the league.
“We're very, very lucky to have the people running the organization that are running it,” Crowder said of Solcz and Mitchell. “Junior B, Tier II and, I think even if they were in the OHL, they would have the same success. They know how to win.”
The community has also embraced the team's move up. Cheryl Issell, who has been with the club for more than 25 years, was named the OJHL'S volunteer of the year and fans have flocked to the Nature Fresh Centre making the team one of the top draws in the league.
“We're really surprised with the fan engagement,” Crowder said. “I think one of the benefits we have is our fans. We were first or second in attendance and we're lucky to have the fan base we have and it's growing.
“There's always a risk when you lose close rivals like Lasalle and Chatham (in junior B), but I think the fans like a winner.”
Going forward, it's going to make the Flyers an even more enviable squad in the league with so many positives in place that will surely attract more players.
“I think people want to play for us,” Crowder said.
But right now, the Flyers aren't so much looking to the future as they are focused on the present.
Along with being the defending league champs, Collingwood also finished atop the league standings this season and is the No. 1-ranked team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
It's a daunting challenge, but one the Flyers will embrace and one Mitchell wants his players not just to accept, but to savour.
“I want them to understand the accomplishment we've had so far, but remind them it's just two series (to a title),” Mitchell said. “If you want to make a name for yourself or guys want to go to the next level, there will be guys watching (this series), from the OHL to the NCAA and even the NHL.
“People watch to see what you can bring. The lines are going to be thin when it comes to mistakes and that's up to us not to be satisfied because we deserve respect from a lot of people that didn't believe we would be where we are right now.”