The Winkler Flyers put together an impressive stretch of Manitoba Junior Hockey League play in early January, winning four straight games to strengthen their grip on fourth place in the MGEU East Division.
Winkler opened the run with a dominant 7–1 victory over the Winnipeg Monarchs on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the Hockey For All Centre. After trailing 1–0 late in the first period, the Flyers exploded for seven unanswered goals, including four in the third. Derek Jacobson scored twice and added two assists, while Carter Lyons, Carter Carlone, Cole Gudmundson, Logan Thomas and Ty Grant also found the scoresheet. Winkler outshot the Monarchs 50–10.
The Flyers completed the weekend sweep Sunday with a tighter 3–2 win over Winnipeg. Jacobson scored twice in the first period, while Dylan Rieger added the eventual game-winner. Goaltender Austin Russell made 19 saves as the Flyers held on through a penalty-filled third period.
Winkler continued its road success Tuesday, Jan. 6, edging the Selkirk Steelers 3–2 at the Selkirk Recreational Complex. Goals from Gudmundson and Carlone gave the Flyers a first-period lead before Lyons scored the winner early in the third on the power play. Ethan Ekblad stopped 30 shots in the victory.
The road swing wrapped up Friday, Jan. 9, with another statement performance — a 7–2 win over the Neepawa Titans at the Yellowhead Centre. Winkler built a 5–1 lead midway through the game and never looked back. Jacob Wallace, Cole Fequet, Jackson Dalton, Rieger, Carlone, Braden MacTavish and Riley Ingram all scored, while the Flyers went 2-for-3 on the power play and finished with a 44–26 edge in shots.
With the four wins, Winkler improved to 19-13-1-2 on the season, good for 41 points — tied with Dauphin for second-most points in the MJHL’s West but sitting fourth in the highly competitive East Division. The Flyers trail only Niverville, Steinbach and Portage in the conference standings.
Winkler returns home this week for a three-game homestand at ICON Arena, hosting Selkirk on Tuesday, Jan. 13, followed by the Dauphin Kings on Saturday, Jan. 17 and the Winnipeg Blues on Sunday, Jan. 18.
