The Winkler Flyers added three more to the win column in MJHL action this past week.
With Jacob Michelson and Evan Panzer at the doorstep, Flyers netminder Liam Ernst makes a save during their penalty kill to help keep the Flyers in the lead in their 7-5 win over Niverville Friday night
On Feb. 3 they welcomed the sixth-place Winnipeg Blizzard to town, and sent them packing with a 7-2 loss.
It was all-Winkler through the first 40 minutes, with goals from Connor Rieger, William Lyons (with two), Ethan MacTavish, Niklas Gudmundson, and Charlie Weaver giving the home team a 6-0 lead heading into the final frame.
There, the Blizzard bookended the period with goals, wrapped around one more from MacTavish.
Liam Russell was called on to make 20 saves in net off 22 shots. His teammates fired 36 the other way.
The Flyers then squared off against the first-place Niverville Nighthawks Friday night, also in Winkler.
The two teams matched each other shot for shot through the first period—seven in all—but when the whistle blew it was Winkler who was up 2-1 thanks to goals from Tanner George and Joshua Ingram.
Another close period in the second frame—with 14 shots on net from Winkler and 13 from Niverville—saw the Flyers add three to the Nighthawks’ two to remain in the lead 5-3. Scoring was courtesy of Riley Fequet, Aiden Jacobson, and Gudmundson.
Niverville tried to close the gap in the third, but Winkler matched them goal for goal thanks to George and Bernier to win it 7-5.
Liam Ernst was between the posts for the Flyers this game and he made 24 saves as shots on goal clocked in at 29-29.
The next night the Flyers blanked the visiting Swan Valley Stampeders 7-0. Gudmundson and Weaver both scored twice while Trevor Dalton, George, and Lyons contributed singles.
Russell got the shutout in net, making 30 saves.
The Flyers remain in fourth place in the MGEU East Division with a record of 26-16-1-2 and 55 points. They’re tied in points with the third-place Terriers, though Portage has two games in hand. In first and second place is Niverville (79 points) and Steinbach (72), both of whom have earned their seat at the playoff table.
This week Winkler hosts Portage Tuesday, Virden on Friday, and Waywayseecappo Saturday night. They then hit the road to play in Virden on Louis Riel Day.
