Three Frontenac Flyers Teams Win the East and Compete in the Provincials
In an exciting display of skill and determination, the Frontenac Flyers' U11, U15, and U18 teams have emerged as champions in the Eastern Ontario Minor Hockey League (EOMHL). They had the opportunity to represent Frontenac at the prestigious Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Championships, solidifying their places among the top youth hockey teams in the province.
U11 Frontenac Flyers: A Perfect Storm of Talent and Teamwork
The U11 Frontenac Flyers showed true grit and electrifying speed on their way to securing the EOMHL Championship, beating both the Norwood Hornets and the Napanee Stars in the Semi-Finals and Finals. Competing at the Tier 1 Championships in Kingston on 3-5 April they knocked off four teams to qualify for the gold medal game. This included a 5-3 win over the top ranked Dresden Jr Kings. As fate would have it, they played Dresden again in the finals and lady luck was not on their side. While disappointed, this team walked away from the tourney as the second best team in the province.
U15 Frontenac Flyers: Relentless Hockey
The U15 Frontenac Flyers’ journey to the EOMHL Championship was a testament to the team's relentlessness. Undersized and younger than most of their competition, this collection of 13 and 14 year-olds won the EOMHL by beating both Napanee and Campbellford. This earned them the chance to compete in the OMHA Tier 2 Championship in Halton Hills. A record of 3 wins and 1 tie resulted in a championship game against the Kent Cobras. Despite Frontenac leading for most of the game, Kent was able to tie the score with 9 seconds left on the clock. This led to an exciting sudden death overtime, where Kane Thomas secured the W with an overtime golden goal. Coach Mike Chiasson emphasized how fun it was to coach this team “Our opponents regularly commented on how fast and relentless our team played. It is a pretty nice compliment. These kids had a blast all year. Watching them play was a tremendous gift for the community"
U18 Frontenac Flyers: An Unstoppable Force
Our Senior Flyers had a similar successful year. They won the EOMHL Championship in dramatic fashion be sweeping both the higher ranked Napanee Stars and Campbellford Colts. This secured their berth into the OMHA Championships. This was a return to the provincials for the older players born in 2008 and the first time for the 2009 players. They made the most out of the weekend. In game 1 they beat the top ranked Mooretown Flags. This was followed by two other round robin wins. This qualified them for the semi finals against the second ranked team in the province, the East Lambton Eagles. Unfortunately, a trip to the finals was not meant to be as they lost 2-1 in sudden death overtime.
Coach Cory Thompson said “this team went toe-to-toe with the best teams in the province. They competed every game. Not the final outcome we wanted, but I am darn proud of their performance".
The Association that Keeps Punching Above it Weight!
The EOMHL Championship victories by three of their five representative teams are not just a testament to the skill of the players, but also to the strength of the Frontenac Minor Hockey program. President Marc McIntosh reflected “The commitment of our volunteers and our continued focus on development are the key reasons for Fronetnac's continued success. I also need to acknowledge the wonderful partnership we have fostered with the Frontenac Community Arena.".
