Feature ArticleFebruary 13, 2002
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Finish regular season in second and
Flyers
start playoffs with a winby
Bill Cuthill
The regular season is over, and now the playoffs have begun. The
Flyers finished the season tied for first place when they lost in
overtime the last game of the season. This left three teams tied for
first: Flyers, Raiders, and Pirates; and left the top brass of the
league having to wipe the dust of the constitution and see what the
rules are for a three-way tie. The result were that it came to the
most games won; thus Raiders finished first, Flyers second, and
Pirates third. This gave the Flyers home ice advantage in the first
round, which started this past Sunday, so the Flyers did not have much
time to advertise. The crowd was pretty good and they saw a very
exciting first game. Before the game, manager Jamie Kirkpatrick
had a closed door with the players, and challenged the players. If
the Flyers were going to win, they had
to control their emotions. Everyone understood that the Flyers
have to be physical and emotional, but nine misconduct penalties, six
of them for verbal abuse was something he was not going to put up with
any longer. To give the players credit, they responded and
played the best game of the season. Flyers were led by the two overage
with Mike Thompson getting a goal and two assists, followed by Matt
Lowe with one goal and one assist. Cory Thompson got what proved to be
the winning goal and Rob Smith scored the insurance goal.
Kyle King, the new goalie the Flyers acquired when Rob Laurin
went down with a knee injury, played a excellent game on his 17th
birthday, and was presented the game puck by coach Ryan Vivian.
Before the game Derek Mack was presented with the top trophy for top points and Most Valuable Player of the league. Derek had a amazing season, with more points than any other Junior C player in the Ontario Hockey Association. With 45 teams across Ontario, this is quite a accomplishment.
Derek wasn't the only winner on Sunday. The 50-50 draw on the tickets the Flyers had been selling the past few months was drawn by Wayne Tod, Chairman of the OHA, and John Burt of Godfrey was the winner of over $1,000. John, my phone number is in the book if you want to take me out for a coffee, seeing that I sold it to you at the Frontenac Mall.
The next game is in Picton on Thurs. Feb. 14, at 7.20 p.m. If you can go, the Flyers will sure appreciate the support. The third game is at North Frontenac Arena, Sun. Feb 17, at 3.15 p.m. The fourth game is in Picton again on Mon. Feb. 18, at 8.20 p.m. If a fifth game is necessary, it will be at North Frontenac Tues. Feb. 19, 7.20 p.m.Again, if you haven't seen a Flyer game, now is the time. You will not see any more exciting playoff hockey than what is going on in your arena right now. See you at the arena!!!
