Leamington Flyers

Leamington Flyers
City:	Leamington, Ontario, Canada
League:	Ontario Junior Hockey League
Founded:	1954
Home Arena:	Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre
General Manager:	Justin Solcz
Head Coach:	Dale Mitchell
Affiliates:	Flint Firebirds (OHL)

The Leamington Flyers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. They begin play in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with the 2023-24 season. They previously played in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. They are an affiliate of the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds.

History

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.

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.[1]

At the beginning of the 2006-07 season, it was announced that the Flyers have officially affiliated with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit.

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.

In the 2013–14 season the Flyers won the regular-season championship with a record of 37 wins 10 losses and 2 OTL for 76 points finishing 3 points ahead of the rival Lasalle Vipers. The Flyers eliminated St.Mary's 4–0 then faced the defending Sutherland Cup Champion London Nationals. The Flyers would need a couple double overtime games but defeated London 4 games to 1. The Flyers faced the Chatham Maroons in the Finals. A maroons team that had added many pieces at the deadline and were the favourites. The Flyers in front of a record crowd 2,057 at the Heinz Arena for Game 5, on a goal from Mitch Amante in the final minutes won Game 5 by a score of 1-0 to clinch their first ever Western Conference Championship.

The 2014–15 edition of the Flyers finished the season with 38 wins 9 losses and 2 OTL good enough for the regular-season championship. The Flyers faced the number 8 seed Lambton Shores Predators in the first round, the Flyers swept the Preds, outscoring them 22-1 in the 4 games. Next up were the London Nationals who finished 7th but were coming off a huge upset of the Chatham Maroons. The Nationals would win the first 2 games on the strong goaltending from Justin Tugwell. The Flyers would find a way to solve the London netminder and win the next 4 to take the series in 6 games. Leamington would make their 2nd straight Western Conference Finals and take on their county Rival Lasalle Vipers. The Flyers would take home their 2nd straight Western Conference Title in 6 games against the Vipers in a classic series. Both the Vipers and Flyers would advance to the Sutherland Cup Playoffs. The eventual Sutherland Cup Champion Caledonia Covairs would eliminate the Flyers in 5 games in the Sutherland Cup Semi-Finals.

On May 11, 2015 General Manager Mike Sadler stepped down from the organization. Kevin Hopper takes over as the team General Manager.cially affiliated with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit.

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.

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.

Season-by-Season Results

Season	GP	W	L	T	OL	GF	GA	P	Results	Playoffs
1958-59	20	5	14	1	-	67	103	11	4th BCJBHL
1959-60	29	6	23	0	-	109	181	12	6th BCJBHL
1960-61	29	7	22	0	-	105	223	14	7th BCJBHL
1961-62	30	13	17	0	-	132	156	26	5th BCJBHL
1962-63	36	11	25	0	-	134	203	22	6th BCJBHL
1963-64	28	16	12	0	-	139	147	32	3rd BCJBHL
1964-66	Junior franchise inactive; juvenille team played in Bluewater Juvenile League
1966-67	Played as an independent team
1967-68	51	5	46	0	-	160	355	10	5th WOJBHL
1968-69	30	21	8	1	-	171	119	43	2nd BCJHL
1969-70	34	23	9	2	-	159	104	48	2nd BCJHL	"C" Champions
1970-71	40	30	8	2	-	247	133	62	2nd GLJHL
1971-72	36	20	12	4	-	209	169	44	2nd GLJHL	Won League, Won CSC
1972-73	42	34	6	2	-	298	148	70	2nd GLJHL	Won League
1973-74	43	19	20	4	-	184	193	42	6th GLJHL	Won League
1974-75	42	25	9	8	-	220	129	58	2nd GLJHL
1975-76	42	26	13	3	-	235	173	55	3rd GLJHL
1976-77	42	22	16	4	-	201	166	48	2nd GLJHL
1977-78	42	21	16	5	-	204	206	47	3rd GLJHL
1978-79	40	15	19	6	-	226	223	36	6th GLJHL
1979-80	42	36	4	2	-	344	156	74	1st GLJHL	Won League, Won CSC
1980-81	42	28	10	4	-	328	180	60	2nd GLJHL
1981-82	39	26	10	3	-	264	192	55	2nd GLJHL
1982-83	39	29	8	2	-	331	154	62	1st GLJHL
1983-84	40	19	16	5	-	180	170	43	5th GLJHL
1984-85	39	15	20	4	-	171	202	34	7th GLJHL
1985-86	40	13	20	7	-	205	252	33	7th GLJHL
1986-87	38	23	12	2	1	240	163	49	4th GLJHL
1987-88	39	26	10	3	0	247	157	55	1st GLJHL
1988-89	38	29	8	1	0	259	143	59	4th GLJHL
1989-90	40	21	13	4	2	194	176	48	4th GLJHL
1990-91	39	18	21	0	0	157	183	36	8th GLJHL
1991-92	42	13	25	2	2	163	232	30	10th GLJHL
1992-93	52	15	27	5	5	-	-	40	5th WOJHL West
1993-94	52	36	14	0	2	293	213	74	1st WOJHL West
1994-95	52	37	11	0	4	320	199	78	2nd WOJHL West
1995-96	52	34	10	6	2	303	202	76	1st WOJHL West	Lost Final
1996-97	52	31	13	3	5	276	198	70	1st WOJHL West	Lost Final
1997-98	52	29	19	3	1	189	171	62	2nd WOJHL West
1998-99	52	36	12	0	4	254	167	76	2nd WOJHL West
1999-00	54	36	14	0	4	250	183	76	3rd GOHL
2000-01	54	24	24	4	2	176	187	54	6th GOHL
2001-02	54	36	15	2	1	276	172	75	2nd WOJHL
2002-03	48	37	8	1	2	231	131	77	1st WOJHL
2003-04	48	28	18	1	1	178	151	58	4th WOJHL
2004-05	48	20	20	3	5	166	179	48	6th WOJHL
2005-06	48	10	33	1	4	110	196	25	9th WOJHL
2006-07	48	17	28	-	3	159	199	37	8th WOJHL	Lost Quarter-final
2007-08	48	25	21	-	2	187	191	52	15th GOJHL	Lost in Quarter-final
2008-09	52	28	19	-	5	184	170	61	12th GOJHL
2009-10	50	7	38	-	5	128	276	19	8th GOJHL-W	Lost Conf. Quarter-final
2010-11	51	26	21	-	4	183	162	56	6th GOJHL-W	Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 3-4 (LaSalle)
2011-12	51	30	17	-	4	214	163	64	2nd GOJHL-W	Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Strathroy)
2012-13	51	32	16	-	3	185	152	67	2nd GOJHL-W	Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4-1 (Sarnia) Lost Conf. Semifinal, 1-4 (London)
2013-14	49	37	10	-	2	232	120	76	1st GOJHL-W	Won 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)
2014-15	49	38	9	-	2	210	130	78	1st GOJHL-W	Won 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)
2015-16	50	41	8	1	0	200	95	83	1st 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)
2016-17	50	27	16	1	6	163	140	61	4th of 9-W 12th of 27-GOJHL	Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4-2 (Sarnia) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4-2 (LaSalle) Lost Conf. Finals, 1-4 (London)
2017-18	50	31	12	5	3	202	142	70	2nd of 9-W 7th of 26-GOJHL	Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4-0 (Komoka) Lost Conf. Semifinals, 3-4 (St. Thomas)
2018-19	48	33	10	2	3	193	122	71	1st W	Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4-1 (Strathroy) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4-3 (Komoka) Lost Conf. Finals, 0-4 (London) Advance as wild card TBD Sutherland Cup Semfinals
2019-20	50	38	9	1	2	225	132	79	2nd W	Won Conf. Quarterfinals 4-0 (Kings) trailing 1-0 against London Nationals when playoffs are cancelled by Hockey Canada
2020-21	Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22	48	36	12	0	0	194	119	72	1st 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)
2022-23	50	35	11	4	0	217	121	72	1st 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)
Ontario Junior Hockey League - Jr "A"
2023-24	56	34	14	5	3	209	139	76	3rd of 12-West 4th of 24-OJHL	Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Raiders) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–1 (Menace) Lost Conf Finals, 0-4 (Blues)
2024-25	56	45	7	3	1	238	93	94	1st of 12-West 2nd of 24-OJHL	Won Conf. Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Canucks) Won Conf. Semifinals, 4–0 (Jr. Sabres) Lost Conf Finals, 1-4 (Menace)

Clarence Schmalz Cup Appearances

1972: Leamington Flyers defeated Cobourg Cougars 4-games-to-1

1980: Leamington Flyers defeated Bradford Blues 4-games-to-none

Sutherland Cup Appearances

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

Notable alumni

• Chris Allen
• Darren Banks
• T.J. Brodie
• Tim Gleason
• Zack Kassian
• Kris Manery
• Steve Ott
• Eric Reitz
• Charlie Stephens
• Tim Hrynewich

External links

• Flyers Webpage