Feature Article March 28, 2002
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
End
to a great seasonby
Bill CuthillThe
Frontenac Flyers were defeated 5-2 by Uxbridge on Thursday night to
complete a four game sweep. The season is now over, and what a season
it has been!
At the start of the season, the directors asked, and expected, that the team be among the top three in the Empire league and make the finals. Yes, it was a lot to ask, but they felt the talent was there. However, the coaching staff needed to get the commitment from the players. For the most part they did; the players also had the same desire and proved it by ending the season in a three-way tie for first place. Then they took the Napanee Raiders to seven games in the finals and won it in their barn. This was no easy feat, I assure you! The Raiders are a good hockey team, but they didnt have a Mike Thompson or Matt Lowe.
For that reason, this is probably the hardest article to do. We will not be seeing these two dressing for a Flyers game again, and saying thank you and good-bye to them is hard. Matt Lowe has been with the team for four years. He quietly goes about doing his job with wicked speed and a desire to win. He, along with Mike has put this team on his shoulders and led throughout the playoffs.
Mike has been with the team for six years; he fought everyone that was willing to fight. The first two years he didn't play regularly, but he hung in and improved every game. This year part way through the season, I believe Mike realized it was his last year, and the team needed someone to step up and lead by example. It is my strong belief that if Mike had not done that, it would be another losing season for the Flyers, I've only seen that type of leadership once before, and his sweater will hang in the hallway for that reason.
The Flyers directors wanted to be sure that I thanked the sponsors and the fans for supporting the Flyers throughout the season, especially in the playoffs. They want to thank Nancy Lansdell and her Minor Hockey organization for their support this year; it was greatly appreciated.
After the final game with Uxbridge, I went into the equipment room to congratulate the players, and found Jamie Kirpatrick, Bob Wilson, Troy Snider, and Ryan Vivian already talking about next season. They talked about the players that would be returning, and about players who have approached them during the playoffs and said they wanted to play for the Flyers next season.
As for me, I was worn out. As I said to some of the players when they presented me the cup full of champagne, "I thought I was going to be in an old folks home before I would see it again, and I probably would be drooling in it!"
Again, fellows, thanks for the great season. I'm sure next year the sponsors and fans will be there again; they know the Flyers are for real. The Flyers now know they can compete and win the Empire League. Maybe next year they should think about winning an All Ontario hey, you have to dream big!
See you at the arena!!!!
