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Jr A Flyers play four games over five days

January 6, 2016   ·   0 Comments

Squad has tough outcome winning one of four

By Brian Lockhart

The holidays meant time off of work for most people.

For the Orangeville Junior A Flyers it meant work harder.

The squad played four games in five days over the new year holiday week.

Starting with a Wednesday night game in Mississauga on December, 30, the Flyers met the Chargers with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

After getting off to a strong start and scoring three in the first period the Mississauga team fought back scoring two early in the second period to close the gap.

The Flyers managed two more to end the frame with a 5-3 lead.

The game ended with a 7-4 Flyers win when the Orangeville scored two more in the the third period.

Returning to the Alder Street arena the following day (Thur., Dec. 31) the Flyers hosted the Toronto Jr. Canadiens for a mid afternoon home game.

The teams arrived with almost identical win / loss records setting up the first period for a back and forth effort with neither team being able to score.

The Canadiens opened the scoring early in the first period then followed up with a second goal 13 seconds later.

Orangeville’s Josh DeFarias lit up the board for the Flyers on a powerplay at the midway mark but the Toronto team managed to score again to make it a 3-1 game with 20 minutes left to play.

The Flyers tied it up on goals from Derek Topatigh and Zack Lyons but another Toronto goal gave the Canadiens the lead and the game ended with a 4-3 loss for the Flyers.

“Both teams were seeing how each other team played,” Said Flyers defenceman Derek Topatigh of the first period in Thursday’s game. “We had a bit of a break so everyone wanted to get their feet under each other. Everyone was going hard. Both teams were playing well defensively and not giving up much. It was a hard hitting game. Both teams were pretty even so it was hard to get chances. Eventually we started capitalizing on some chances, they did as well. It was a real tight, strong, fast game.”

After playing to a scoreless tie in the first frame, both teams and the fans were waiting to see who would break the stalemate and score first.

“We got a good group of guys so everyone’s keeping each other up. We’ve had a few bad bounces this season but with hard work and the team we have the bounces are sure to come.”

The squad usually plays one or two games per week with a practice thrown in as well so hitting the ice for four games over five days meant the team had to rise to the physical challenge.

“It’s kind of tough. You just have to make sure you’re getting rest, icing your body down and making sure any aches and pains are taken care of, and making sure you are as fresh as you can be for the next game,” Topatigh said.

The squad travelled to Oakville on Saturday (Jan. 2) to take on the Blades.

After playing a tough three periods that saw the teams match goal for goal they ended the third period with a 4-4 tie.

Returning for overtime the Oakville squad got the game winner at 33 seconds into the period to end the game.

The following day the Flyers went to Burlington to meet up with the Cougars.

The Flyers ran into trouble in the first period when they allowed three Burlington goals to trail 3-1 going into the second.

Orangeville fought back winning the second period 2-0 to get back into the game but the third period turned against them when Burlington managed to score four to end the game at 7-3.

Those three losses will bring the Flyers’ record to 18-18-1 – and that includes three overtime losses for the season.

The Flyers will be back on home ice at the Alder Street arena on Saturday, January 9, to host the Whitby Fury.

The puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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