Mar 22, 2014 | nreintjes | 1356 views
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!
21 regular season games behind us. 8 games in two tournaments behind us. 29 games played by the FLYERS and we end with a record of 21-3-5! In all honesty, who cares about the record! What will be remembered is the fun we had getting there. It’s a bitter sweet day as we look at where we’ve been but knowing that it’s over.
Our last game of the year happened to be against the one team that always gave us a run for our money; the Sharks! The FLYERS met the Sharks four times this season; they won two and we one two; always by only one point! Two perfectly matched teams and they were only team that could beat us in the regular season.
The fans took their seats early, anticipating a great game and knowing that it could go either way. As the players ran onto the ice the cheering in the stands became wild in an instant. I think all knew that this would be a fantastic game' but they also knew it was the last game for both. Our last chance to watch our beloved Tykes take the ice as the 2013/14 Sharks and the 2013/14 FLYERS; may as well cheer like we’ve never cheered before.! Why wouldn’t ya?
The puck dropped and the play was instantly hot. There was no warming up for these kids. The play went back and forth with absolute equality for the first 3 and ½ minutes, but neither team was able to get a goal or even dominate the play. Suddenly, the puck ends up on the boards at centre ice and 6 players surround as if it was the Holy Grail. Dig, Dig, Dig….. but it’s still caught within the groups' sticks. #6, Camryn Ryall, as always, comes out the victor and get the suffocated puck free. The blue disc then gets into the hands of about three different players from both teams until a FLYER takes control and lets loose. # 14, defenseman, Owen Gray, who has been off the roster for what seems like weeks, tips the puck with the heel of his left skate blade and self passes the puck to his stick. Owen makes his way up stream and encounters two hungry defensemen. Owen weaves his way through and backhands the puck into the upper right side of the net. 1-0 FLYERS! The shifts change and all line up at centre ice for the drop. As expected, the play goes back and forth for the next 5 minutes, with the players demonstrating significant skill. The Shark’ s make a pass right through traffic… big mistake. Owen sees this opportunity and snaffles the blue beast and heads directly for the Sharks’ net. Unassisted, Owen buries his second goal of the game and gives the FLYERS a 2-0 lead. We all know that a 2-0 lead against the Sharks doesn't mean we can take it easy. The Sharks can come back in an instant… which they do.!
Into the second now, and the teeth on the Sharks can be seen from all angles of the stands, glistening and sharp. Chomp, Chomp.. They’re hungry and looking for a bite! But…only 2 minutes into the second the play finds itself in the offensive zone and it’s chaotic. The puck bounces from team to team and no one seems to be able to get control. It’s a mad house! The puck, for only a second, becomes free. #10, Bryce Steinmann, as if wearing zoom lenses, picks up this lonely puck and takes possession. Bryce stick handles the puck like it’s nobody’s business and gets to the net completely unscathed. Bryce shoots the puck. It gets deflected of a Shark’s boot and enters the forbidden zone of the net! Unassisted goal for Bryce at 7:20 in the second and goal # 3 for the FLYERS! The Sharks respond with their first goal at 3:35 and that’s it for the second.
Not surprisingly, the third becomes a period of instability. The puck drops and is instantly picked up by #8, Holly Brulotte. Holly fires the puck to her sister in play, Camryn Ryall. Cami, with the skill of a pro, carries the puck into the zone and goes left on the goalie. He drops, Cami giggles and shifts the puck to the right where she tips the puck into the open net. One minute later, the Sharks net another goal making the score 4-2 for the FLYERS. As the play goes on it seems like this will be the final score until the Sharks, in the last minute, get one more goal but soon the buzzer sounds. 4-3 FLYERS!
Our last game and our last hurrah of the FLYERS’ season.
I cannot thanks the two Coach Steve’s and Head Coach Jeff for everything they have done for our kids this year. They had nothing but the betterment of our kids in their minds and truly strived to make sure they had fun and developed a love for the game. The kids would not be at the level they are, would not have improved and had fun like they did without you.
Parents….. This season would not have been what it was without your support, involvement, passion and enthusiasm for each and every player. Thank you so much. We had fun didn’t we!
Fans… some of you came just because you love the game. Some of you came as relatives. Some of you came as friends. Some of you were distant fans by reading these posts. Thank you!
Last, but certainly not least; the kids. Thank you Row, Mighty Molly, Jumpin’ Joel, Cami, Slick Sam, Holy! Holly, Duttsy, Brilliant Bryce, Cool Carse, Cayden the Crowd Pleaser, Great Gray and O-Dog! Thanks for being you and taking me back to childhood, if only for a few hours a weekend! You are wonderful kids, worked so hard and improved so much this year!
I, myself, must sign off now, but want everyone to know what an absolute pleasure it has been for me to be the manager of the FLYERS this year! I sat on the couch every Saturday night (or whenever I got around to it) and smiled for hours as I wrote these posts (and howled at some of the nonsense and fabrication I was able to come up with); remembering the day’s game and the hockey that I was privileged to watch. I hope you all enjoyed the articles. I am honoured to have been the manager of the FLYERS and will miss it immensely.