The Winkler Royals continued to set the pace in the SEMHL last week, while the Morden Bombers and Red River Wild each experienced mixed results during a busy stretch of league play.
Winkler opened the week with a dominant 8–1 win over the Portage Islanders on Friday, Jan. 2. Brett Bergman scored twice, including a shorthanded goal that stood as the game-winner early in the second period. Justin Augert added two goals, while Aaron Lewadniuk chipped in a goal and two assists. Goaltender Matthew Thiessen stopped 31 shots as the Royals pulled away with seven goals over the final 40 minutes.
The Royals followed up with another lopsided victory Saturday, Jan. 3, defeating the Warren Mercs 9–1. Augert recorded a hat trick, Lewadniuk scored four times, and Winkler broke the game open with five goals in the second period. Thiessen turned aside 30 shots to earn the win.
Winkler’s winning streak came to an end Saturday, Jan. 10, with a 5–2 road loss to the Springfield Winterhawks. TJ Matuszewski scored on the power play to tie the game midway through the second, but Springfield pulled away with three third-period goals. Jayme Janzen made 25 saves in the loss.
The Morden Bombers split their three games, opening with a 9–6 home win over the Carman Beavers on Friday, Jan. 2. Jory Mullin scored twice in the first period and Cade Kowalski added two goals as Morden built an early lead. Collin Shirley’s goal late in the second period stood as the winner. Carman mounted a late push with three goals in the final minutes, but the Bombers held on.
Morden then dropped a 4–3 decision to the Portage Islanders on Sunday, Jan. 4. Tyler Campbell scored early in the third to give Morden a brief lead, but Portage responded with a power-play goal before taking the lead later in the period and adding an empty-netter. Reed Peters made 36 saves in the loss.
The Bombers closed the week with a 6–3 loss to the Ile des Chenes Northstars on Friday, Jan. 9. Morden led 3–1 midway through the first period, but Ile des Chenes scored five unanswered goals over the remainder of the game to pull away.
Red River opened its week with a 3–2 overtime win over the Notre Dame Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 3. Brendan Harms scored twice, including a power-play goal late in regulation to force overtime. Jonah Wasylak ended it just 19 seconds into the extra frame. Carter Lemay made 36 saves in the win.
A game sheet was unavailable for Red River’s Jan. 11 home game against Ile des Chenes.
In the standings, Winkler sits atop the SEMHL with a 9-2-0-1 record and 19 points. Springfield follows with 16 points, while Red River and Ile des Chenes are tied at 15 points. Morden sits sixth at 6-8-0-0 with 12 points.
League play resumes this weekend with Winkler visiting Red River on Saturday, Jan. 17, while Morden heads to Ile des Chenes on Friday, Jan. 16.
