Goderich Junior Flyers bow out for the 2025/2026 season
- Kate Smith
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
Following a string of seasons that proved difficult to compete in the Pollock Division of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and an added struggle to recruit and retain players, the Goderich Flyers Hockey Club decided to bow out for the upcoming season.
On July 24 the Goderich Flyers Hockey Club announced its formal request for a leave of absence from the PJHL for the 2025/2026 season.
Stating that it is not a goodbye but a pause, the Flyers organization has full intention of returning stronger.
According to the hockey club, over the past several months, Hockey Operations and Executive teams have worked tirelessly to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the organization.
One of the major goals was focused on player recruitment, with the goal of building a more competitive team.
Unfortunately, due to many factors, including the town’s geographical location being farther from schools and major urban centres, the organization was facing many significant challenges.
Despite best efforts, the organization struggled to recruit, and it was an obstacle that was proven too difficult to overcome at this time.
The Executive made the difficult but necessary decision to pause operations for the 2025/2026 season, keeping in line with the commitment to fielding a competitive team.
The formal request for a leave of absence was sent to the PJHL, and the league’s Board of Directors will convene to determine next steps for the Goderich Junior Flyers organization.
Players currently under the contract of the Goderich Flyers will become free agents and are eligible to pursue opportunities with other teams.
Sponsors and donors who made financial commitments for the upcoming season will be contacted in the coming weeks to arrange for the return of contributions.
Fans will be kept informed of any developments related to the leave of absence. The organization remains hopeful through continued hard work, community support and successful fundraising efforts, the team will return to the PJHL for the 2026/2027 season.
In an official statement made by the organization, it is stressed that this outcome was never the intention of the current Executive and Hockey Operations staff.
“However, the challenges we’ve faced have proven insurmountable for the coming season,” the statement read.
Hockey has been a strong tradition in this town from the days of the original Goderich Flyers in the 1940s until today.
At one time, Goderich played home for a very successful Junior B team called the Goderich Siftos in the 1960s. This team was part of the Detroit Red Wings system and related to the Hamilton Red Wings Junior A team.
Following those years of the Goderich Siftos, with a long history of junior hockey in the area, Goderich eventually pushed for a new team.
In 2003 Goderich was granted expansion, and the team was named the Sailors. During those years, the Goderich Sailors found some success.
In the 2004/2005 season, the Sailors squeezed into the fourth and final playoff spot, eventually leading to the semi-finals where the Sailors were swept by the Wingham Ironmen.
In both the 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons the Sailors earned a playoff spot, unfortunately losing in the quarter finals in both years.
From the year 2003 until 2013, the Goderich Sailors lost in the quarter finals of playoffs each year.
It wasn’t until 2014, when Doug Cruickshank played a hand in bringing the Goderich Flyers to fruition, named after the original Goderich Flyers, who won the OHA Junior C championship in 1947.
Once the team was re-organized and re-named as the Flyers, from 2014 until 2025, the team has frustratingly lost in the Pollock Division quarterfinals of playoffs each season.
During many of those years, Richard Madge served as an executive member, coach, writer and in more recent years, as the national anthem singer.
“I will miss the team and hope they can come back, but it has been a difficult time for those who worked so hard over the years to keep the team active,” stated Madge.
This isn’t the first time the organization has taken a leave of absence.
During the span of 1993 until 2003, the team did not participate.
In the 2013/2014 season, the Sailors were granted a leave of absence to try and re-organize.
Despite setbacks and leaves of absence over the years, junior hockey continues to claw its way back to the ice, ready to take on a new season.
Goderich Flyers Hockey Club has stated its intention is to rebuild the program and come back stronger, once again.
Through all the name changes, and pauses, over the years the community has continued to support junior hockey in Goderich.
Despite struggling in the Pollock Division these last few years, support for the Goderich Flyers hasn’t wavered.
According to the Goderich Flyers Hockey Club, this decision isn’t giving up, but a chance to restructure and refocus for the 2026/2027 season.
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