‘Players committed’: Flyers GM sees winning as key to long term success

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John Senior Flyers general manager Lee Hartman says players committing and constant winning is vital to the team’s long term success.

The team bowed out in four games to the Dawson Creek Canucks in the North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) playoffs last weekend, but feels the season was a lot more successful than previous years.

“We had two years where we just had enough players to put a team on the ice,” said Hartman.“[There were] lots of games we didn’t have enough players to make road trips.”

“This year, players committed. We had full buses to make trips, which helped develop the team.”

Midway through the season, the club’s head coach Craig Faulkner stepped away for personal reasons. 

Although the Flyers began the 2024-25 season with ten straight losses, the team finished the year going 5-5 under the direction of Eric Nystoruk.  According to Hartman, Faulkner’s decision “opened the eyes” of the team.

“Craig did a great job,” said Hartman. “[The players] realized if they didn’t start to work together and pull themselves out, no coach was going to do that.  Eric stepped in and did a good job.”

Highlights of the season included a 7-4 win over the Canucks in January, ending a losing streak to Dawson Creek of ten games.  

The team also won two games over High Prairie and one over Grande Prairie during the second half of the year.

In addition, Aiden Craig-Steele was named NPHL Rookie of the Year.  

Although he does have potential options including a professional golf career, Hartman said Craig-Steele joining the team was a “surprise”.

“For every Aiden that joins us, we lose an Aiden from the year before,” said Hartman. “We need people to come in, have good years and stick around and play for the longevity of the team.”

Looking ahead to next season, Hartman hopes the team will be “competitive” to have a shot at the AA Senior Hockey Championship, the Coy Cup, which will be hosted by Dawson Creek in 2026.

Details about the Senior Flyers are available on the team’s Facebook page.