The head coach of the Alvinston Flyers expects the first-round Great Lakes Junior “C” Hockey League playoff series with the Blenheim Blades to be a fast, physical battle.

“It has the potential to go six or seven games,” said Ted Archer.

The Flyers finished in fifth place, two point behind the fourth place Blades.

But, Alvinston had one of the best records in the nine-team league over the final 20 games of the season.

“We had a rough first 20 games of the season.  It took us a while to get our system in place,” said Archer.  “But we were 13-5-2 in the second half of the season, so I certainly have high expectations.”

The Blades won the season series, three games to two, but the Flyers prevailed in the two most recent games by scores of 3-2 in a shootout and 1-0.

Alvinston raises the curtain on its home playoff schedule on Friday night at the Brooke-Alvinston-Inwood Community Complex at 7:30 pm.

The teams opened the best-of-seven quarter-final affair on Tuesday night in Blenheim, but the score was not available as of press time.

The remainder of the series dates are listed below:

Game Three Sunday, Feb. 8 at Blenheim at 7:15 pm

Game Four Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Alvinston at 8 pm

Game Five (if necessary) Thursday, Feb. 12 at Blenheim at 7:30 pm

Game Six (if necessary) Friday, Feb. 13 at Alvinston at 7:30 pm

Game Seven (if necessary) Sunday, Feb. 15 at Blenheim at 7:15 pm