Midland Flyers

Canadian junior ice hockey team

Midland Flyers

City| Midland, Ontario[1]
League| Provincial Junior Hockey League
Conference| North
Division| Carruthers
Founded| 1978 (1978)
Home arena| North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre
Colours| Black, Orange, and White
President| Dave Gillespie (2021)
General manager| Dave Gillespie
Head coach| Dave Gillespie (2024)
Franchise history
1978–1994[2]| Midland Centennials[2]
1994–1999[3]| Midland Flyers[3]
1999–2002[4]| Midland Thunder[4]
2002–Present[1]| Midland Flyers[1]

The Midland Flyers are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Midland, Ontario.[1] They play in the Provincial Junior Hockey League and were former members of the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League.[5]

## History

[edit]

In 1985, the Centennials won the Georgian Bay championship and wheeled their way through to the Clarence Schmalz Cup final where their ran into the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League's Belle River Canadiens. The Canadiens took the All-Ontario final 4-games-to-1.[6]

In 1994, the Georgian Bay Junior C Hockey League merged with the Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League to create the Georgian Mid-Ontario Junior C Hockey League. That same year, the Midland Centennials decided to change their name to the Midland Flyers.[3]

In 1999, the team chose to change its name to the Midland Thunder.[4] The team was very competitive. Despite not winning any league championships, the Thunder maintained a winning record and kept near the top of the league.

The 2002 seasons saw two things happen. In 2002, the Midland Thunder once again became the Midland Flyers.[1] Also, 2002 was the year where the franchise's winning ways seemed to have disappeared. In the five seasons since Midland became the Flyers, the team has not won ten games in one season.

The 2005-06 season saw the team bottom out with a completely winless season. The eighth seeded Flyers drew the wrath of the first seed Penetang Kings who swept the Flyers in their first of six rounds of playoffs to win the Clarence Schmalz Cup as All-Ontario Champions.[7]

The 2006-07 was a mild improvement, but barely enough to know that the Midland Flyers are in a healthy place. For the second year in a row, the Flyers drew the Penetang Kings in the first round of the playoffs which Kings beat the Flyers 4-games-to-none to win the league quarter-final.[7] Again, the Kings went on to win the league and another Clarence Schmalz Cup.[6]

## 2012–13 season

[edit]

In the 2013 GMOJHL playoffs, the Flyers defeated the Caledon Golden Hawks in 5 games and the Stayner Siskins in 5 games to reach their first league final since 1986. Midland faces the five-time consecutive champion Alliston Hornets in the final.

The Flyers lost their team President, General Manager and Head Coach when Dave Gillespie passed away following the 2024-25 season. He was only 56.

## Season-by-season standings

[edit]

Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results | Playoffs

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1973-74 | 40 | 15 | 19 | 6 | - | 171 | 189 | 36 | 4th MOJBHL | Lost final
1974-75 | 40 | 21 | 11 | 8 | - | 193 | 161 | 50 | 3rd MOJBHL | Lost semi-final
1975-76 | 36 | 16 | 14 | 6 | - | 149 | 162 | 38 | 4th MOJBHL |
1976-77 | 40 | 10 | 24 | 6 | - | 158 | 231 | 26 | 6th MOJBHL | DNQ
1977-78 | Did Not Participate
1978-79 | 36 | 6 | 25 | 5 | - | 168 | 248 | 17 | 7th GBJCHL | DNQ
1979-80 | 30 | 0 | 29 | 1 | - | \-- | \-- | 1 | 7th GBJCHL | DNQ
1980-81 | 34 | 14 | 18 | 2 | - | 191 | 211 | 30 | 5th GBJCHL | Lost semi-final
1981-82 | 40 | 13 | 24 | 3 | - | \-- | \-- | 29 | 7th GBJCHL | DNQ
1982-83 | 34 | 17 | 15 | 2 | - | \-- | \-- | 36 | 6th GBJCHL | Lost quarter-final
1983-84 | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | - | \-- | \-- | 36 | 3rd GBJCHL | Lost semi-final
1984-85 | 32 | 19 | 11 | 2 | - | 215 | 164 | 40 | 3rd GBJCHL | Won League, lost CSC Final
1985-86 | 32 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 265 | 144 | 52 | 1st GBJCHL | Won League, lost CSC QF
1986-87 | 32 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 186 | 168 | 42 | 2nd GBJCHL | Lost semi-final
1987-88 | 30 | 10 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 142 | 194 | 22 | 5th GBJCHL | Lost quarter-final 0-3 (Blair McCann)
1988-89 | 36 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 221 | 137 | 52 | 2nd GBJCHL | Won quarter-final 4-0 (Bruins)
Lost semi-final 0-4 (Siskins)
1989-90 | 36 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 181 | 121 | 50 | 3rd GBJCHL | Won quarter-final 4-0 (Huskies)
Lost semi-final 2-4 (77's)
1990-91 | 30 | 4 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 188 | 10 | 6th GBJCHL | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (77's)
1991-92 | 36 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 2 | \-- | \-- | 32 | 5th GBJCHL | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (77's)
1992-93 | 35 | 13 | 17 | 2 | 3 | \-- | \-- | 31 | 4th GBJCHL | Lost quarter-final 1-3 (Kings)
1993-94 | 38 | 17 | 19 | 0 | 2 | \-- | \-- | 36 | 4th GBJCHL | Lost semi-final 0-4 (Siskins)
1994-95 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 0 | - | \-- | \-- | 42 | 5th GMOHL | Won Preliminary Round 2-0 (Cubs)
Lost quarter-final 2-4 (Kings)
1995-96 | 43 | 15 | 26 | 2 | - | 164 | 209 | 32 | 8th GMOHL | DNQ
1996-97 | 36 | 19 | 16 | 1 | - | 172 | 195 | 39 | 5th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-3 (Cubs)
1997-98 | 36 | 18 | 15 | 3 | - | 185 | 177 | 39 | 4th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-3 (Kings)
1998-99 | 36 | 26 | 10 | 0 | - | 216 | 151 | 52 | 1st GMOHL | Won quarter-final 4-0 (Cubs)
Won semi-final 4-0 (Bulls)
Lost final 2-4 (Devils)
1999-00 | 36 | 20 | 14 | 2 | - | 201 | 160 | 42 | 4th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Cubs)
2000-01 | 36 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 174 | 119 | 43 | 3rd GMOHL | Won quarter-final 4-0 (Cougars)
Lost semi-final 3-4 (Devils)
2001-02 | 36 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 149 | 125 | 43 | 4th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 2-4 (Shamrocks)
2002-03 | 36 | 7 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 146 | 230 | 16 | 8th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Siskins)
2003-04 | 36 | 4 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 107 | 245 | 13 | 8th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Shamrocks)
2004-05 | 40 | 6 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 102 | 212 | 15 | 8th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Hornets)
2005-06 | 42 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 4 | 93 | 269 | 5 | 8th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Kings)
2006-07 | 41 | 3 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 91 | 237 | 9 | 7th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Kings)
2007-08 | 42 | 15 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 121 | 179 | 36 | 5th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Shamrocks)
2008-09 | 42 | 6 | 31 | - | 5 | 96 | 215 | 17 | 7th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Kings)
2009-10 | 42 | 10 | 27 | - | 5 | 102 | 201 | 25 | 6th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Siskins)
2010-11 | 40 | 15 | 22 | - | 3 | 132 | 187 | 33 | 5th GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 2-4 (Kings)
2011-12 | 40 | 16 | 22 | - | 2 | 144 | 167 | 34 | 6th GMOHL | Won quarter-final 4-0 (Shamrocks)
Lost semi-final 0-4 (Siskins)
2012-13 | 40 | 25 | 14 | - | 1 | 203 | 146 | 51 | 3rd GMOHL | Won quarter-final 4-1 (Hawks)
Won semi-final 4-1 (Siskins)
Lost final 1-4 (Hornets)
2013-14 | 39 | 5 | 29 | - | 5 | 111 | 233 | 15 | 10th GMOHL | Won Preliminary Round 2-0 (Terriers)
Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Kings)
2014-15 | 40 | 11 | 24 | - | 5 | 131 | 194 | 27 | 10th GMOHL | DNQ
2015-16 | 40 | 19 | 16 | 5 | - | 152 | 148 | 43 | 3rd of 9 GMOHL | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Kings)
2016-17 | 42 | 17 | 25 | 0 | - | 154 | 205 | 34 | 4th of 8-PJHL
Carruthers Div | Won quarter-final 4-2 (Otters)

Lost semi-finals, 0-4 (Siskins)

2017-18 | 42 | 17 | 23 | 2 | - | 173 | 227 | 36 | 5th of 8-PJHL
Carruthers Div | Lost quarter-final 2-4 (Kings)
2018-19 | 42 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 141 | 184 | 39 | 7th of 8-PJHL
Carruthers Div | Lost quarter-final 2-4 (Golden Hawks)
2019-20 | 42 | 14 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 129 | 180 | 31 | 7th of 8-PJHL
Carruthers Div | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Stayner Siskins)
2020-21 | Season Lost due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021-22 | 30 | 8 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 195 | 17 | 7th of 8-PJHL
Carruthers Div | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Terriers)
2022-23 | 40 | 8 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 122 | 195 | 21 | 9th of 9-PJHL
Carruthers Div | Lost quarter-final 1-4 (Hornets)
2023-24 | 42 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 264 | 8 | 9th of 9-PJHL
Carruthers Div | DNQ
2024-25 | 42 | 9 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 227 | 20 | 7th of 8 Carruthers
14th of 16 North Conf
54th of 63-PJHL | Lost quarter-final 0-4 (Terriers)

* 1973–1977[8]
* 2000–2004[9]
* 2004–Present[7]

## 2013 offseason

[edit]

Midland Flyers announced that head coach Ed Garinger has resigned his current position with the Midland Flyers and has joined the Alliston Hornets as head coach. .Midland Flyers have hired Luke Dubbin as head coach along with Kyle Horzempa as assistant coach. Gerry Asselin will return as well as general manager and team president.

## 2014 offseason

[edit]

Midland Flyers announced that head coach Luke Dubbin was stepping down and have hired Dave Steele as their new head coach. Dave was an assistant coach with the Waterloo Siskins of the Greater Ontario Junior (B) Hockey League the previous season. Waterloo had won their Midwestern Conference Championship (first in 20 years). Gerry Asselin is remaining as general manager and president.

## Clarence Schmalz Cup appearances

[edit]

1985: Belle River Canadiens defeated Midland Centennials 4-games-to-1[6]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Sandy McCarthy[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Midland Flyers
2. ^ a b Midland Centennials
3. ^ a b c Midland Flyers
4. ^ a b c MidlandThunder
5. ^ GBMOJHL Teams | Georgian Bay Mid-Ontario Junior Hockey League | Junior C | Leagues | Ontario Hockey Association
6. ^ a b c Ontario Hockey Association 2006–2007 Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition by The Ontario Hockey Association (2006)
7. ^ a b c Home | Ontario Hockey Association
8. ^ Owen Sound Sun Times Sports section, final standings
9. ^ http://www.ohahockey.org/ Provided by GMO League statistician
10. ^ Legends of Hockey – NHL Player Search – Player – Sandy McCarthy

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Provincial Junior Hockey League

Carruthers|

* Alliston Hornets
* Huntsville Otters
* Innisfil Spartans
* Midland Flyers
* Muskoka Bears
* Orillia Terriers
* Penetang Kings
* Stayner Siskins
* (See also: GMOHL)

Pollock|

* Fergus Whalers
* Goderich Flyers
* Hanover Barons
* Kincardine Bulldogs
* Mitchell Hawks
* Mount Forest Patriots
* Walkerton Capitals
* Wingham Ironmen
* (See also: WOJCHL)

Bloomfield|

* Dundas Blues
* Dunnville Jr. Mudcats
* Glanbrook Rangers
* Grimsby Peach Kings
* Hagersville Hawks
* Niagara Riverhawks
* Port Dover Sailors
* Streetsville Derbys
* (See also: NDJCHL)

Doherty|

* Dorchester Dolphins
* Hespeler Shamrocks
* New Hamburg Firebirds
* Norwich Merchants
* Paris Titans
* Tavistock Braves
* Wellesley Applejacks
* Woodstock Navy-Vets
* (See also: MWJCHL)

Orr|

* Caledon Golden Hawks
* Clarington Eagles
* Georgina Ice
* Little Britain Merchants
* Port Perry Lumberjacks
* Schomberg Cougars
* Uxbridge Bruins
* (See also: COJCHL)

Tod|

* Amherstview Jets
* Campbellford Rebels
* Frankford Huskies
* Lakefield Chiefs
* Napanee Raiders
* North Kawartha Knights
* Picton Pirates
* Port Hope Panthers
* (See also: EBJCHL)

Stobbs|

* Amherstburg Admirals
* Blenheim Blades
* Dresden Jr. Kings
* Essex 73's
* Lakeshore Canadiens
* Mooretown Flags
* Walpole Island Wild
* Wheatley Sharks
* (See also: GLJCHL)

Yeck|

* Aylmer Spitfires
* Exeter Hawks
* Lucan Irish
* Mount Brydges Bulldogs
* North Middlesex Stars
* Petrolia Flyers
* Port Stanley Sailors
* Thamesford Trojans
* (See also: SOJHL)

Seasons|

*   * 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Former teams|

* Ayr Centennials
* Burford Bulldogs
* Delhi Travellers
* Gananoque Islanders
* Lambeth Lancers

* Clarence Schmalz Cup
* Ontario Hockey Association
* Ontario Hockey Federation
* Hockey Canada

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template