“I Never Thought My Junior Career Would End From A Virus”

Most hockey players dream of their Junior careers coming to an end with a trophy raised over their head. If not a championship, then a path forward into a higher level of hockey.

At worst, a Junior hockey career is supposed to end being eliminated from a hard fought playoff series.

For former Chatham Maroons forward Josh King, and the rest of his Leamington Flyers teammates, none of the above happened.

“It was pretty upsetting, we worked hard all year for this and it’s tough seeing it end like this,” King said of watching the news break about the coronavirus and the decisions that became necessary from hockey’s governing bodies.

The Leamington Flyers had just finished a first round sweep of the Komoka Kings to open their GOJHL playoff run, and had defeated the St. Mary’s Lincolns in game one of round two. Undefeated in the playoffs, without a trophy to show for it.

For King, and other 1999 born players in the GOJHL however, it didn’t just mean the end of a season, it meant the end of a Junior hockey career.

“I never thought my Junior career would end from a virus, but safety trumps everything so if that’s the way it’s got to be, then I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.”

King spent two and a half seasons with the Chatham Maroons before joining Leamington. The Windsor Jr. Spitfires ‘AAA’ alumni notched over 100 points at the Junior B level.

For King and the rest of the Flyers, they’ve been working toward a championship since training camp in August. Although by all accounts, people believe the season is over, if a miracle occurs and the call comes, King and his Leamington teammates will be waiting.

“We’ve been working hard every day since main camp in August with one thing on our mind,” said King. “If we get the call to continue we’re going to pick up right where we left off and chase what we’ve wanted for the last 6 months with the culture and family we’ve created.”