Flyers miss cashing in chances to score
The challenge has gotten bigger for the Leamington Flyers
The top-seeded Collingwood Blues scored just over seven minutes into overtime to beat the third-seeded Flyers 2-1 on Sunday before a crowd of 1,481 at the Nature Fresh Centre.
The defending Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Blues hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final. Game 3 of the series is Tuesday in Collingwood.
“I definitely feel we deserved a better outcome on Sunday,” Flyers head coach Dale Mitchell said.
“We had a plethora of chances. We've got to find more than one goal, but it's not from a lack of effort.”
After dropping the series opener 3-0 in Collingwood on Friday, the Flyers opened the scoring early in the second period on Sunday on a goal by Alex Cunningham only to see the Blues tie the game at 1-1 less than three minutes later.
Leamington pushed for the goahead goal with a 12-6 shot advantage in the third period and 33-30 overall, but the Blues got the win.
“They're a good hockey team and ranked first in Canada for a reason,” Mitchell said. “Against a great team, they're not going to make it easy and you have to stick with things. Even when things aren't going the way you hope with chances early on, you have to stick with the process.”
OHL DRAFT COMBINE
Lasalle's Cooper Otterman and Essex's Eddie Hickson were among 76 prospects to take part in the OHL Draft Combine, which wrapped up on Sunday in Oshawa.
A defenceman with the Halton Hurricanes, Otterman had a goal in two games for Team Ekblad, which finished second among the four teams that were graded for on-ice performance and off-ice testing. Hickson, who plays for the Sun County Panthers, had a goal and two assists in two games for Team Subban, which was coached by Windsor Spitfires interim head coach Casey Torres and finished third in the event.
SAINTS SOFTBALL ADDITION
The St. Clair Saints have added middle infielder/pitcher Ashton Fong, who is from Colwood, B.C., for the 2024 OCAA season.
A multi-sport athlete, Fong has extensive club experience in B.C. and won a provincial Summer Games bronze medal in 2022, a U17 provincial silver medal in 2023 and a bronze medal at the national championship last summer.
“Ashton is a speedy player who brings an energetic and positive personality to the team,” Saints head coach Doug Wiseman said in a release. “She is a dedicated and determined player who will add depth to our team as a pitcher along with her versatility as she can play multiple positions effectively.”
SAINTS SOCCER RECRUIT
The St. Clair Saints women's soccer team has added Sofia Ovcharenko for the 2024 OCAA season.
A five-foot-six goalkeeper, Ovcharenko, who is from Edmonton, is transferring to St. Clair after three seasons at the University of Alberta-augustana where she was a conference all-star. She was also the only goalkeeper to earn Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association all-canadian status last season.