(Courtesy of @GoderichFlyers)(Courtesy of @GoderichFlyers)
Midwestern

2018-19 Pollock Division Preview: Goderich Flyers

For the first time in awhile, there was tangible, marked improvement for the Goderich Flyers.

The team didn't finish dead last for the first time in a few years, and looked to be making some significant strides forward. GM David Errington is confident that rise will continue, and the team will have a solid returning cast from last year that will look to only get better. New additions through a number of prospect camps will hopefully be able to aid the Flyers in ascending the standings, as they look to break into the top 4 fir the first time in a long time in Jr. C play.

Up front, Goderich will have the advantage of returning a large cast of their top scorers from last season. Leading point man Chase Meurs (37 points) is back to lead the charge. Meurs is poised to have a breakout year this time around and could easily eclipse 50 points, as Goderich will also return their other top 5 scorers behind him with Matt Bean (29 points), Mitch Fischer (24 points), brothers Chad and Cody Treble (24 points each) and Trent Michie (20 points). The Flyers will have the advantage of getting their top two lines back, who are all familiar with each other and all eager to improve on last season. Errington is also enthused about the return of young Riley Connors, who had 8 points in just 19 games, and figures to wildly improve on that total with some more power play exposure this season. Goderich has the makings of what could be a surprisingly potent offense.

On defense, the Flyers will welcome back impressive two way defender Braeden Duncan, whose 18 points led all Flyers blueliners last campaign. Duncan will run the power play, and be relied on to make things happen at even strength and in his own end even more so with the departure of over aged standout Morgan Benniwies. Duncan will get some help from youngster Griffin Macdonald, whom Errington thinks can add a lot of dynamic play and puck rushing ability to the blueline right away. The Flyers have at times over the last few years lacked quality defensive depth, and adding another defender that can quickly turn defense into offense will only help their ambition of climbing the standings. The team anticipates that young Brad Watson will be back to give the Flyers a solid top 3 on the back end, but they will miss the physical edge from over aged stalwart Wyatt Carey. His 100 penalty minutes last year were an indication of his style of play, and someone will need to step in from camp and hopefully fill the role of protector in terms of guarding the Flyers' crease.

Speaking of the crease, Goderich will hopefully have Kevin Linker back after he played 26 games for Goderich last year, holding the team in a number of games despite what his numbers may initially show. Linker went 3-21-0, but was often left hanging by a sometimes porous defense, and his .868 save percentage and 4.95 GAA will surely vastly improve as the Flyers continue to hopefully gel more in front of him. Linker was trying out for some Jr. B outfits, but Errington anticipates he will likely return, but backup Brandon Bean has moved on, so the Flyers will again rely on a training camp standout to step in and help Linker with duties in the blue paint.

For more on the upcoming Goderich Flyers season, here is the full length interview with GM David Errington:

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ERRINGTON.mp3"][/audio]

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