IN A WHIRLWHIND FINISH, the Novice AA Flyers who had been down 2-0 earlier in the game, battled back with a late third period goal to tie the Brampton Battalion 4-4 in regular season play at the Alder St Community Centre on Monday night. Photo/MIKE MALONEY It may have been called the Christmas break but the Hockley Valley Resort Midget AA Flyers have had little time for rest over the last two weeks.

In the days leading up to Christmas, the team came up with big wins over Georgetown and Caledon before going on the road to compete in the Stratford Silverstick Tournament.

Against Georgetown, a three goal, first period effort from Deryck Kowaluk lead the team to a 3-1 win over the Raiders.

Orangeville segued from that win to the Stratford tournament with a huge win over the Caledon Hawks on December 23rd.

Goals from Neil Stevenson, Tyler Hogan, Travis Hill and Scottie Maurice gave the Flyers the offensive punch to rise above Caledon 4-1; the first time in a number of years that they have managed to defeat the Hawks.

Grit, hard work and determination were three of the key elements that helped put the team into the Silverstick final against Stratford days later.

Placing third in the round robin, Orangeville battled their way to the championship game with a 3-2 overtime win against the Flamborough Sabres in semi-final action.

Stratford opened the scoring in the first period of the championship game at the 8 minute mark when a Flyer miscue gave them an opportunity to take the lead.

Not to be deterred, Orangeville battled back, taking the game to Stratford shift after shift, displaying aggressive fore checking, heavy body checking while displaying excellent puck control. Their efforts were rewarded with six minutes remaining in the first on a goal from Billy Kasperchuk assisted by Kowaluk.

A second period goal from Dave Fuller assisted by Caiden Fairburn offset a Stratford marker sending the two squads into overtime tied at 2-2.

In what could best be described as an unbelievable freak of bad luck, a one in a million Stratford puck dump into the Orangeville end took an odd bounce off the glass, finding its way past goalie Chris Bragger out of the net to stop what would have any other time been a harmless wrap around behind the net, giving Stratford the 3-2 win.

On Monday night, Orangeville was back at home against the second place Brampton Battalion.

After having dropped their previous two outings to the Battalion, Orangeville were poised and ready to rectify this situation.

Goals from Dave Fuller and Bud Brown erased an early Battalion lead in the first and set up what would prove to be a scoring flurry through the second.

A six goal onslaught by Brampton was offset by an additional five by the Flyers including two more from Fuller as well as lone markers from Hogan, Maurice and Jason Rodgers.

With Orangeville down 7-6 going into the third it was Hogan's goal from Maurice and Fuller that gave the Flyers the tie and keeps Orangeville in first place atop the standings.