The Winkler Flyers struggled a bit last week but kicked off this week with a win.
Winkler’s Niklas Gudmundson carries the puck around behind Dauphin netminder Bryson Yaschyshyn in Sunday’s 5-1 Flyers victory
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, they fell 3-2 to the visiting Selkirk Steelers.
The close battle saw Winkler outshoot Selkirk 33-28 and up 2-1 late in the third period, but the visitors fired home the tying goal with just minutes left on the clock and then got the game winner with one second to spare.
Scoring for Winkler early in the first was Connor Rieger. Tanner George then pulled the Flyers into the lead in the third period’s 16th minute. In net, Leif Ekblad made 25 saves for the Flyers.
Things weren’t as close Friday night in Virden against the Oil Capitals.
The two teams were an even match when it came to shots on goal—37 each—but it was Virden who managed to find the mark six times, while Winkler’s offensive lines scored just twice (both coming from Kam Thomas in the second period). Ekblad took the loss in net, making 31 saves.
The pendulum swung back the Orange and Black’s way Sunday night at home against the Dauphin Kings.
Niklas Gudmundson got Winkler on the board midway through the first period. After the Kings tied it up five minutes into the second, it was the Flyers who did all the rest of the scoring, with Jacob Michelson, George, and Owen Wallace making it 4-1 heading into the final 20 minutes. Gudmundson then got his second of the night to cement the win 5-1.
Liam Russell stopped 24 shots in net as the Flyers outshot the Kings 34-25.
The Flyers are 3-7-1 for the season thus far, good for seven points and sixth place in the MJHL East Division, ahead of only the Winnipeg Monarchs, who have one win and 14 losses on their record.
Leading the division right now are the Steinbach Pistons (10-0-1), the Selkirk Steelers (10-1-1), and the Niverville Nighthawks (9-1).
This week Winkler hosted Neepawa Tuesday (results were not available at press time) and then heads north to play in Swan Valley Friday and Saturday and in Dauphin on Sunday.
