Novice Flyers take championship

Craig Bakay | Mar 22, 2017

It went like this: Game 1, 6-3 Flyers win at Frontenac Arena; Game 2, 7-1 Flyers win at Wasaga Beach Stars; Game 3, 9-0 Flyers win at Wasaga Beach.

And just like that, the Novice Flyers rep team is the top dog in the OMHA Novice East CC-C loop this season.

Before the team bus left for Wasaga Beach last Friday, South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal, himself a veteran of many, many hockey campaigns, came on board to give the guys a pep talk. Next, there was a an inspirational video from Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith, who grew up in the Frontenac Minor Hockey system.

“He (Smith) told the team ‘just enjoy it,’” Flyers Head Coach Jamie Craig said. “This is a big deal for 7 and 8 year olds.

“You could go through your whole life and not do it again.”

The final was a “great game,” Craig said.

Drake Thomas with four goals, Kayson Antoine with three goals and an assist, Rhett Coulson with a goal and two assists and Jack Craig with three assists paced the Flyers’ attack.

But once again, goalie Hayden Consack stood out, notching the shutout.

“We kind of built from last year (when the Flyers reached the final but fell 3 games to 0 to the Sturgeon Lake Thunder),” Craig said. “It’s been great and they (the team) handled it very well.

“But we also had great support from the parents and without that, we couldn’t do it.”

Next season, Craig and most of his team will be moving up to Atom, leaving only four members of this team in Novice.

“It’s not just about one team,” Craig said. “It’s about the organization.”

But for this season, this championship, it’s about this bunch.

“I think it’s just starting to sink in,” Craig said.