PeeWee Flyers down Ilderton Jets to take CC championship

Craig Bakay | Apr 03, 2019

It’s in the books; the PeeWee Frontenac Flyers are the Ontario Minor Hockey Association CC champions, having beaten the Ilderton Jets 5-1 last Saturday evening at Ilderton.

The series went five games, with the Flyers winning the first two at home, by identical 4-1 scores. The Jets won the next two, in Ilderton, 4-1 and 6-1, setting up the iconic clash for all the marbles.

“I was very nervous going in, but confident,” said Flyers head coach Al Pixley. “Like every game in the series, the team that scored first won the game.

“And we scored first.”

That first goal came early in the opening frame, but Ilderton tied it up before the period ended.

Coming out for the second, tied 1-1, the Flyers started playing like they have been all year, and before you knew it, they had built a 3-1 lead.

“This was the best defensive game our forwards played all year,” Pixley said. “They played like I hoped they would.

“Ilderton did have their chances though and when they threatened to score, our goalie, Severing Steele kept us in it.”

The Flyers added an insurance goal in the third and in the waning minutes, Braden Dillon notched an empty netter to put the final nail in the Jets’ coffin.

Beau Reade scored two for the winners, with Blake Buchanan and Vann Thomas adding singles.

“We scored two late goals in the second but Ilderton didn’t quit,” Pixley said. “But after we got one in the third, they kind of conceded the loss.

“But we had our backs to the wall in this one, and like I said before, if Ilderton had beaten us, they would have deserved to win.

“But we beat them and I think we deserved it.”

He said there were plenty of Flyers supporters in the stands too.

“Many parents drove down the day before and stayed overnight, so we were kind of relaxed with the drive out of the way,” he said. “And there were a lot of former Flyers living in the area who came out for the game too.”

Pixley had much praise for the coaching staff of Derek Joynt, Ian Irving, Travis Young and Sean Reade.

“They did a marvelous job,” he said.

With this season in the books, Pixley said he hasn’t really thought much about next season, partially because he was leaving Monday for a much-deserved vacation in Barbados. But when asked, he did admit to some excitement when he did think about it.

“We should have five or six core players returning,” he said. “And there will be some good Atoms moving up, including coach Jamie Craig.

“I’m excited and have a lot of respect for Jamie.

“After all, we’re only five months away from tryouts.”