The Winkler Flyers put themselves back in the win column with a 9-4 win at home over the Steinbach Pistons on Sunday night. Chapen Leblond scored twice while Jordan Neduzak and Tanner Jago recorded three points each as the Flyers snapped their two game losing streak and move to 12-2 on the year.


After scoring just one goal in their past two games the Flyers erupted for nine goals on the Pistons in front of nearly 700 fans at the Winkler Recreation Complex.


Flyers captain Chapen Leblond started things off with his eighth of the season just 1:04 into the game with Jordan Neduzak and Brock Vanderveen picking up the helpers. Rookie defenseman Tanner Jago added to the Flyers lead with his fourth of the campaign firing a shot through a crowd giving Winkler a 2-0 lead just 4:26 into the period.


The Flyers first period offense was not done there as Red Deer, Alberta native Connor Patchett netted his second of the year to give Winkler a 3-0 with just 1:21 to play in the period. The Pistons got on the board with just 20 seconds left in the opening frame which made the score 3-1 for the Flyers after 20 minutes.


Winkler would add four more in the second period and it began with the same flash as the first period. Leblond potted his second of the game and ninth of the season 1:27 into the period when Neduzak slid a pass left to right in front of the net which allowed the Flyer captain to slap it in giving with a 4-1 lead.


The next two Flyer goals were scored on the power-play. The first game came off the stick of defenseman Eric Hansey who buried his first as a Flyer with a well place shot from the point. David Sabey made it 6-1 for Winkler at the 10:28 mark with his second of the season.


Steinbach would get a power-play marker of their own with 3:22 to play in the period to cut the Flyers lead to 6-2. The Flyers league best penalty kill killed off a Jordan Neduzak four minute double minor spearing penalty late in the period and moments after stepping out of the box Neduzak stripped the Pistons defense of the puck and ripped in his ninth of the season to give Winkler a 7-2 lead after 40 minutes.


The Flyers seemed to let up in the third period which resulted in two Pistons goals. The Flyers lead was down to three goals with 7:07 to go in the hockey game. Jory Mullin pushed Winkler ahead by four with 1:52 to play. He forced a turnover with a hard forecheck and back-handed a shot over the shoulder of the Pistons netminder to make the score 8-4. With nine seconds left in the period, Daniel Fainman cleaned up a loose puck in the crease to give Winkler a five goal lead and after the ensuing faceoff, a 9-4 victory. It was the Flyers highest goal output in a single game this season.


Tyler Oswald picked up the win in goal making 36 saves as the Flyers out-shot the Pistons 52-40. Brendan Edie and Mitch Backhouse split time in goal. Edie got the start but was replaced after the Flyers sixth goal.


Winkler's special teams were strong again as they went 2-for-3 on the power-play and allowed Steinbach to score on just one of their five power-plays.


The Orange and Black received contributions from almost the entire line-up. All but four players on the Flyers skaters earned at least a point. All four forward lines also made it on the scoresheet.


The Flyers will admittedly need to play a much more complete game in order to defeat the Sher-wood Division leading Dauphin Kings on Tuesday night. The Kings, much like the Flyers have lost two of their last three games and sit in first place in the Sher-wood Division with an 11-5 record. Winkler beat the Kings 6-3 back on October 8th at the MJHL Showcase event in Winnipeg. With Sunday's win, the Flyers are back on top in the Addison Division with a 12-2 record.


Including Tuesday's home game against the Kings, the Flyers will play four of their next five games at home.

Game Stats