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Flyers All Time Stats (Before 2008-09 season)
Year-by-Year History

The first Senior Hockey team in Leader played from 1948 to 1953 under the name of the Smokies. This team played very few games since Leader's indoor arena didn't open until 1956. The Senior Hockey club changed its name to the Flyers for the 1953-54 season. During that season the team didn't enter a league and just played in a few exhibition games and entered a couple of tournaments. The Original team members included Ed Davis, Mervin Miller and Royce Gill tending the net. Back on the blue line where Pete Meier, Joe Goldade, Alex Jassman, Mar Clary, Tom Lovestone, Charlie Nagel and Johnson Nagel who was also the team's coach. Playing up front were Paul Nagel, John Stark (Team Captain), Wilf Dietrich, Eugene Helfrich, Emil Eirich, Fred Schmidt, Leo Helfrich, Neil Clary, Cal Bungay, Jim Cocks, Fred Krentz, Cal Birch and Adam Fetsch. Ralph Frey Managed the Team.

In the 1954-55 season the Flyers entered the Belkap "6" league which also included teams from Prelate, Eatonia, Alsask and Fiske. Coaching the team was Priest Father Fiest from Blumenfeld Church. Ralph Frey held down the managing duties.

During the 1955-56 season the team played only exhibition games instead of entering a league. Coaching was Johnson Nagel. Mr. Frey remained the Manager.

The 1957-58 season saw the Flyers enter the South Saskatchwan River Hockey League under the same coaching and managment. They finished second place.

The Flyers played only exhibition games during the 1958-59 season as they awaited the completion of the current Leader Arena. The first game played at the arena was on January 21st, 1958. It was a 14-3 win over the Cabri Bulldogs.

1958-59 saw the Flyers re-enter the South Saskatchewan River Hockey League. Cliff Jacobson was hired as a player coach. They entered the S.A.H.A playoffs for the first time, losing to the Gull Lake Greyhounds in the second round. Bob Gill took over the Managing duties.

In 1959-60 the Flyers won their first league title taking home the South Saskatchewan River League trophy. The team lost only three of its twenty eight games that season.

After winning the South Saskatchewan River League the year before the Flyers were suspeneded from the league in 1960-61, rough play was the reason given. The Flyers beefed up their roster regardless by picked up imports John and Charles Goodwin. The played exhibition games that season against teams from the Wild Goose Hockey League and a few city teams. They made it to the Southern Finals of the S.A.H.A. only to lose out to the Fort Qu'Appelle Sioux Indians in front of 800 fans at the Leader Arena. Bill Chalcalias was the player-coach. Bob Gill continued to hold down the managing duties while his uncle Sam F. Gill started his long run as the team Secretary.

The 1961-62 season was Flyers first in the tough Wild Goose Hockey League. They hit the ice for forty-five games and finished fifth in the league standings. Imports that year were Goaltender Ken Kuntz out of Moose Jaw and Reno Fleckenstein from Medicine Hat.

In 1962-63 the Flyers won the Southern Saskatchewan Intermedite B Championship, but lost in the provincial final against the Kindersley Klippers. The moved up to fourth in the Wild Goose League standings. Bob Marik and Bud Johns were the Imports. Johns also coached the team. This was Bob Gill's final season as manager.

The Flyers moved up to third spot in the Wild Goose League standings in 1963-64. In the playoffs they made it to the League Finals, beating the Wilkie Outlaws 10-3 in the first game at home only to lose the next four, one being an overtime loss in Wilkie. In the S.A.H.A playoffs the Flyers put in a strong showing but couldn't get by the Notre Dame Hounds in the Southern Final. The Hounds won game one in Leader 7-6. The Flyers took game two in Wilcox 4-3, then lost game three in Overtime. Imports included player-coach Ed Young from Compeer and Bill Donaldson out of Kamloops. Johnson Nagel took over the Managerial duties.

The 1964-65 season saw the Flyers finish fourth place in the Wild Goose League standings. They dropped a semi-final series to the Wilkie Outlaws two game to one. They won their second Southern Intermediate B title only to lose out once again to the Kindersley Klippers in the provincial final. Ed Young remained the Coach.

1965-66 was the year the Flyers brought home the hardware. En Route to the the Provincial Intermediate B Championship the Flyers disposed of Oxbow for the Southern title. In game one of the championship they dropped a 6-3 decision in Wynyard. During game two in Rosetown they hammered on the Wynyard Monarchs 10-3. The game saw the Flyers tally seven markers in the final frame to take the Provincial title. They weren't done there. In the regular season they finished third in the Wild Goose League standings, but went on a run in the playoffs dropping the Kindersley Klippers three game to two in the semi-final. The Klippers went on to win the Saskatchewan Intermediate A Championship that year. In the Wild Goose league finals the Flyers defeated the Biggar Nationals three games to one. What really made the season memorable was the fact that all their playoff games were held away from the friendly confines on the Leader Arena. With games running into late April the home ice was deamed not fit to play on. The Flyers took on the Rosetown Arena as their adopted home. Allan Marshall took over the player-coach duties that year. Imports were Ed Young for a third season and Garth Phillips the father of current NHLer Chris Phillips of the Ottawa Senators.

In 1966-67 the Flyers finshed second in the Wild Goose League standings. Then lost in three straight game to the Biggar Nationals in the league finals. They lost the Senior Intermediate B final to the Notre Dame Hounds by one goal. Garth Phillips was the teams loan import.

The Flyers were unable to ice a team for the Wild Goose League during the 1967-68 season and chose to enter the South West Hockey League. The finished first in the league standings but lost a one game playoff final to Stewart Valley. The game was only the Flyers second defeat of the season. The S.A.H.A playoffs saw the Flyers enter the North for the first time. I turned out well as they defeated the Tisdale Ramblers in the North final, winning 2-1 at Tisdale and losing 4-3 at Leader, but taking the series in overtime. They met the Notre Dame Hounds in the S.A.H.A Intermediate B final. The Flyers took game one at home 5-2, dropped game two 4-3 in Weyburn, but won the two game total point series to win their 2nd S.A.H.A Intermediate B championship in Johnson Nagel's final year as manager.

The Flyers chose not to enter any league in the 1968-69 season playing just a few exhibition games. It was Alvin Leipert's lone year as manager.

The 1969-70 season saw the Flyers enter the South West Hockey League once again. The finished third in the regular season and were eliminated in the first round of playoffs by the Swift Current Indians. The team didn't enter S.A.H.A. provincials. Charlie Nagel took over as Manager.

In 1970-71 the Flyers finished third in the South West Hockey League and lost to the Swift Current Indians in the semi-finals. In the S.A.H.A Southern finals they couldn't outmatch the Glenavon Pipers.

During the 1971-72 season the Flyers took the regulars season and league title in the South West Hockey League. In S.A.H.A. provincials the quarter-finals were as far as they made it falling to the Notre Dame Hounds.

The 1972-73 season saw the Flyers finish second in the South West Hockey League's regular season. They then dropped the league finals to the Gull Lake Greyhounds. The Flyers won their fourth Southern Saskatchewan Intermediate B championship beating the Whitewood Orioles in a two game total point series played in Esterhazy. In the provincial finals they lost a heart breaker to the Shellbrook Elks. Shellbrook won game one in Rosetown 5-4. The second game in Price Albert ended in at 3-3 tie. However, the Elks scored a disputed goal in the final minute of the game.

After a six year hiatus the Leader Flyers were once again members of the Wild Goose League for the 1973-74 season. The finished third in the regular season and lost to Kindersley in the league semi-final. In S.A.H.A they were eliminated by Grenfell in the Southern Intermediate B final.

In 1974-75 the Flyers took fifth in the Wild Goose Hockey League and were elminated by Kindersley in the first round of S.A.H.A provincials. Louis Burton took over the coaching duties from Allan Marshall.

During 1975-76 the Flyers finished in fourth in the Wild Goose League standings and lost to Kindersley in the league semi-final. The Eston Ramblers eliminated them in the S.A.H.A South final. Brian Back and Allan Marshall split the coaching duties.

Only 5 games into the 1976-77 season the Flyers were forced to withdraw from the Wild Goose Hockey League because their 2 imports from Medicine Hat Randy Aimoe and Jerry Petryk were deemed ineligble. The team played exhibition games for the remainder of the year and lost out to Gull Lake in the first round of the S.A.H.A. provincials.

1977-78 saw the Flyers entering the Wild Duck Hockey League along with teams from Eatonia, Alsask, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Colville-Dodsland, Empress and Oyen. The Flyers won both the regular season and league title. The dropped their first round match up with the Eston Ramblers in S.A.H.A. provincials. Former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ernie Moser coached the team. Managing was Allan Fitzsimmons and Harold Laich, who's son Brooks is a member of the NHL's Washington Capitals.

The Flyers re-entered the Wild Goose Hockey League in 1978-79 but failed to make the playoffs. They decided not to try their hand at S.A.H.A either. Moser remained the coach. George Marshall took over as Manager.

In 1979-80 the Flyers entered the South Saskatchewan River League, playing against teams from Abbey, Cabri, Stewart Valley, Gull Lake and Maple Creek. The finished 4th in the regular season and lost out in the first round of playoffs to Gull Lake. The team didn't enter the S.A.H.A. playoffs. Coaching were Don Dirk, Harold Laich and Al Fitzsimmons. Managing was Ed Schneider.

During the 1980-81 season the Flyers finished fourth again in the South Saskatchewan River League's regular season. The were dropped in the first round of league playoffs by the Abbey Eagles. The team again chose to not enter S.A.H.A. provincials. Allan Marshall and Dave Schmunk held down the managing duties. Harold Laich was the player coach.

1981-82 saw the Flyers re-enter the Wild Duck Hockey League. They finished second in league play and dropped the first round playoff battle with the Kindersley Red Lions. The S.A.H.A. playoffs weren't entered. Paul Nagel started his tenure as Manager. Laich remained the coach.

The Flyers finished the 1982-83 season in fifth place in the Wild Duck Hockey League. They didn't enter the S.A.H.A. playoffs. Blair Hegg took over the player coach duties.

In 1983-84 the Flyers finished first in the Wild Duck League regular season. In the playoffs they made it to the finals only to lost out to the Oyen Clippers. In the S.A.H.A 'C' Provincials they lost out to the Kyle Elks in the second round. It was the first of several years Ernie Moser held down the duty of player-coach.

The Flyers took a step back in the 1984-85 Wild Duck League regular season dropping to second place. The Oyen Clippers took care of the in the first round of the playoffs. In the first round of the S.A.H.A Provincial 'C' draw the Flyers were knocked out by the Dinsmore Dynamoes.

During the 1985-86 the Flyers finished the regular season second in the Wild Duck League, but were finally able to solve the Oyen Clippers in the League final defeating them in three straight. The Kyle Elks proved to much for the Flyers in the First Round of S.A.H.A 'C' Provincials.

In 1986-87 the Flyers won their second consecutive Wild Duck League championship after defeating the Macklin Mohawks three games to one in the league finals. They had finished the regular season in third. The Flyers did not enter S.A.H.A. Provincials. Terry Wiese took over the managing duties.

The 1987-88 ended with a three-peat as the Flyers won the Wild Duck League playoffs with a 3 game sweep of the Oyen Clippers. The team also finished first in regular season play. The chose not to enter the S.A.H.A Provincials. It was Ernie Moser's first year retired from playing to concetrate on just coaching the team instead of having duel roles.

The Flyers reign in the Wild Duck League came to an end in 1988-89. They finished second in league play and lost in the League finals to the Kindersley Kapitols four games to two. They couldn't get by the Kyle Elks in the first round of the S.A.H.A. Provincial 'C' Draw. The job of manager was added to Ernie Moser's coaching duties.

In 1989-90 The Flyers chose not to enter any league and only played 4 exhibition games. Allan Marshall took over the Managing duties that season.

From the 1990-91 season until the 1993-94 season the Leader Flyers did not ice a team.

The Flyers started back up during the 1994-95. They played only 10 exhibition games Managed and Coached by Blair Eichorn.

In 1995-96 the Flyers played their first season in the White Mud Hockey League. They finished fifth in the regular season. The first round of playoffs saw them lose two game to one to the Gull Lake Greyhounds. The team didn't enter the S.A.H.A. provincials.

The Flyers had a much more successful run in the White Mud during the 1996-97 season under the guidance of player-coach Brian Varga. They finished second during the regular season and made it to the semi-finals, dropping a series to the Gull Lake Greyhounds two games to one. They chose not to enter the S.A.H.A. Provincials.

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08


Sources:
- pgs 135-139, Pages of the Past (Leader History Book)
- Leader Flyers 50 year history book compiled by Paul Nagel
- www.saskwesthockey.com
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