Flyers trail 2-0 after home loss in best-of-seven series

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The 2024-25 North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) season appears to be slipping away from the Fort St. John Senior Flyers.

Despite an opening-period lead on goals by team captain Cayle Bell and Alex Nimmo, the Flyers imploded in the following 40-plus minutes, dropping game two of their best-of-seven series to the Dawson Creek Canucks by a score of 7-2 on February 11th.

Flyers head coach Eric Nystoruk described Thursday night’s game three as a “must-win” and said the team needs to play a full 60 minutes to have any shot at getting back in the series. 

“They’re a fast team,” said Nystoruk. “They’re strong. You have to keep moving with them.

“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. We just kind of ran out of gas.”

Although Nystoruk admitted discipline wasn’t an issue as it was with Monday’s opening game, Dawson Creek still went two-for-three on the power play, and said a shorthanded marker from the Canucks’ Kris Desjarlais in the third was “deflating”.

Following game two, Dawson Creek is eight-for-13 in the series with the man advantage. 

“We know there’s another two games,” said Nystrouk. “We’re going to bring it every way we can. It’s up to us to match their intensity.”

Tempers did boil over near the end of the contest, with the Flyers taking unwarranted penalties late in the third period.

Nystoruk said it’s an example of how his team won’t “roll over”, and the Canucks will have to earn the series.

“It’s having to play 60 minutes of hockey and finish hard,” said Nystoruk.

Game three in the NPHL first round series takes place Thursday, February 13th at Memorial Arena in Dawson Creek. Game time is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.