Flyers aim for back to back titles - Flyers/Vipers previews

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flyers2011
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Flyers aim for back to back titles - Flyers/Vipers previews

Post by flyers2011 »

Jim Parker
Feb 24, 2015 - 10:30 PM EST
Last Updated: Feb 25, 2015 - 12:29 AM EST


Leamington Flyers head coach Tony Piroski admits he wasn’t thinking of back-to-back, regular-season titles before the season started.

The club lost five of its top six scorers after winning its first Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Western Conference titles.

With a few returning veterans scattered through the lineup, some younger players stepping up and a few tweaks to the roster, the Flyers are right back on top with the playoffs set to begin.

“If you would have told me that at the start of year or in the off-season, I would have said it would have been huge surprise,” Piroski said. “We were hoping to be competitive, but to get the type of team we got. This is a better team than we anticipated.”

The top-seeded Flyers open best-of-seven, quarter-final play at home Thursday against the Lambton Shores Predators while the fourth-seeded LaSalle Vipers open at home Wednesday against the Strathroy Rockets.

Leamington vs. Lambton Shores
The retooled Flyers actually finished this season with one-more win than last year’s championship team.

“We started off a little slow, but once the guys got together, we realized we have a lot of skill,” said Chris Scott, who led the Flyers with 26 goals and 54 points in 47 games. “After a bit, it didn’t seem too much of a surprise. Winning became a reoccurring thing and now, we’re hoping to keep it up.”

Kyle Quick and Mitch Amante picked up their offensive game and Tyler Duarte proved a solid pickup from Strathroy, Travis Campbell came over from the Sault Thunderbirds and defenceman Ryan Shipley was also brought in.

“I think we have a good team,” Piroski said. “I really like the makeup of our team. I think this team has learned from last year’s team.”

The experience of last year’s title run will only benefit the Flyers this time around.

“It’s a special breed that wins in the playoffs,” Piroski said. “It’s a battle, it’s a couple months long and you have to be prepared to win the little battles all over the ice every night.”

And while the defending champs will also carry a target in the playoffs, Scott believes there’s a lot more positives to being the defending champs than negatives.

“We try to focus on not getting too high and too low,” Scott said. “Everyone tries to dethrone the champions. We have so many experienced players and we just hope to use it to our advantage.”

LaSalle vs. Strathroy
The Flyers had to deal with roster turnover, but the Vipers were dealing with a makeover with the team starting the season with 15 new faces.

“We lost 15 players off our team, so you don’t know where you’re going to find those (replacement) players and how long going to take new players to get acclimated to league and team,” Vipers head coach and general manager Bill Bowler said.

“I’m happy with how our teams performance and how we competed all year.”

Korey Morgan returned to the club and had a solid season with 31 goals and 56 points.

Rookies Manny Silverio (17 goals and 48 points in 49 games), Brett Primeau (27 goals and 46 points in 46 games) and Brendan Harrogate (21 goals and 38 points in 37 games) were solid.

“I think we’re balanced and on any given night any player can step up and have that big night and need that,” Bowler said. “You need that depth to win games.”

Chris Pignanelli returned after a season off and was outstanding while the club has veteran depth in Nathan Veres and Brett Langlois, who appears to be healthy for the playoffs.

“We didn’t finish as high as last year, but the compete’s there and we’re close as a team,” Vipers goalie Paolo Battisti said. “Everyone’s really came together.

“The regular season’s fun, but there’s nothing like the playoffs.”

Battisti gets the start in goal for Wednesday’s opener and Bowler said goaltending will be a key.

“The goaltending position is very important to every team at every level,” Bowler said. “Goaltending’s always the key in the playoffs.

“We worked hard to get home ice, so hopefully take advantage of that.”

jparker@windsorstar.com or Twitter @winstarparker
End of a era in Leamington
Northofusa19
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Re: Flyers aim for back to back titles - Flyers/Vipers previ

Post by Northofusa19 »

This was a really nice write up . I also enjoyed the Blog from Rocket Girl .
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RocketGirl
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Re: Flyers aim for back to back titles - Flyers/Vipers previ

Post by RocketGirl »

I'm glad that you enjoyed my first round preview.
Queen of the GOJHL

Sometimes you just have to straighten your crown and remind them who they're dealing with.
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