Flyers Keep Pace in Hard-Fought Loss to Hanover

Flyers Keep Pace in Hard-Fought Loss to Hanover

The Goderich Flyers delivered a strong performance against the division-leading Hanover Barons on Saturday night, narrowly falling 3-2 in a game that showcased their growth as a team. Logan Bromley was stellar between the pipes, making 48 saves to keep the Flyers in contention. The game also marked the debut of newly acquired forward Nate Bloemberg, who wasted no time making an impact by contributing a highlight-reel assist on the power play.

1st Period

The Flyers started the game with energy, matching Hanover’s pace and creating opportunities, but it was the Barons who struck first. At 13:05, Ryan Colquhoun opened the scoring off a quick play set up by Brody Verbeek and Curtis Arnold. Hanover extended their lead late in the period, as Mark McIntosh converted a setup from Alex McGillivray and Kyle Maloney at 18:33 to make it 2-0. Despite the deficit, the Flyers managed to outshoot the Barons 15-14 in the opening frame, setting the stage for a strong second period.

2nd Period

The Flyers stormed back with two goals in the middle frame. At 8:47, Bloemberg showcased his skill with a beautiful drop pass in the high slot that Kaeden MacDonald buried five-hole on the power play, cutting the Barons’ lead to 2-1. The assist marked Bloemberg’s first point with the Flyers and MacDonald’s sixth goal of the season. MacDonald now leads the team in points among active players.  Just minutes later, at 14:01, Goderich tied the game when Kyle Smeltzer notched his first goal of the season off assists from Aidan Terpstra and rookie Kaden Powell. However, Hanover quickly regained the lead at 15:11 when Kyle Maloney found the back of the net. The period ended with the Flyers trailing 3-2 but still in the fight, as the shot count evened out at 17 apiece.

3rd Period

The third period turned into a defensive battle, with the Flyers putting everything on the line to stay in the game. Bromley came up huge, stopping all 20 shots he faced in the final frame, including several acrobatic saves that brought fans to their feet. Goderich had chances to equalize but struggled to find open lanes against Hanover’s structured defense. Despite their best efforts, the Flyers couldn’t close the gap, and the Barons held on for the win.

Final Thoughts

The Flyers put together a solid 60-minute effort against one of the league’s top teams, proving they can compete with elite opponents. Special teams showed improvement, with MacDonald’s power-play goal marking a positive step forward. The addition of Bloemberg already looks promising, as his creativity added a new dimension to the Flyers’ attack. Bromley’s exceptional play in net continues to provide stability, giving the Flyers a chance to win every night.

The Flyers will return to action Sunday afternoon, looking to build on this performance as they host the Mount Forest Patriots at the Maitland Recreation Centre.

Flyers’ Scoring Summary

• 2nd Period: Kaeden MacDonald (6) – Assists: Nate Bloemberg (7), Jack Stecho (10) (PP)
• 2nd Period: Kyle Smeltzer (1) – Assists: Aidan Terpstra (1), Kaden Powell (1)

Upcoming Games:

• Sun, Nov 17: Mount Forest @ Goderich – 2:30 pm
• Sat, Nov 23: Goderich @ Mount Forest – 8:00 pm
• Sat, Nov 30: Hanover @ Goderich – 8:00 pm

Author: Colin Carmichael
For media inquiries, please email goderichflyershockey@gmail.com