Wawota Flyers 2017-18 Season Preview

The Wawota Flyers enter the 2017-18 season in the Big 6 Hockey League as the two time defending champions. For the last ten seasons, only three teams in the Big 6 have reached the pinnacle of the league, due to a three-peat by the Midale Mustangs and five straight titles from the Bienfait Coalers. For the Flyers, it started during the 2015-16 season when the team made their way to the league final but were unable to get past the Coalers. That all changed the next season when the Flyers would grab their first league championship since the 04-05 season, taking out the five time defending champion Coalers in the process.

Last season the Flyers finished second in the west with a record of 12-6-2 on their way to a second straight league title, this time taking out the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings in four straight. Now looking ahead to this season, Flyers Head Coach Todd Wilson is hoping the club will be able to complete the three-peat.

"I think the guys just have it in their blood that you can't quit," Wilson said. "Hopefully we'll be running off of the high from last season and keep it going into this season. Fight, grind and do what ever we have to do with what ever guys we have. We had a skeleton crew at the end of last year and it was phenomenal how every one pulled through and got us to where we were."

"We're returning probably ninety-five percent of our guys. We're hopefully having a couple guys coming in to play defense for us, and hopefully it will give us an extra boost on the back end."

With the return of Arcola/Kisbey to the league, the team has lost a couple players to the Combines. The Head Coach said those players will be missed, but he is happy to have the familiar team back in the league.

"I think having them back in the league is great. The more teams we can have, the better. It makes for more competition and I like the 24 game schedule, it gives you something to fight for at the end since one team won't make the playoffs. An extra couple games in all these small rinks sure doesn't hurt."

"We were a little later putting our ice in so people are maybe a bit further behind getting into hockey mode in Wawota but as usual our fan base is just fantastic. We have a couple exhibition games lined up this weekend and I think once we get those over with I think everyone will be back in the groove again and ready to watch some hockey again this winter," Wilson concluded.

The Flyers open the regular season on Friday, November 10th when the Midale Mustangs pay a visit to the Wawota Community Forum.

 

2016-17 Regular Season Notes

  • The Flyers finished second in the west with a record of 12-6-2.
  • Taking down the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings in four games, the Flyers won their second straight Big 6 Hockey League Championship.
  • Justin Lamontagne finished second in league scoring with 23 goals and 18 assists in 18 games.
  • Goaltender Guillaume Blouin finished the season 8-6-2.

The first Flyers broadcast will hit the airwaves on CJ1150 when Wawota travels to Oxbow to play the Huskies on Tuesday, November 14th.

Click here to view the Flyers 2017-18 regular season schedule.