Flyers goaltender Ryan Bembridge made 37 saves against his former team as the Winkler Flyers beat the visiting Dauphin Kings 5-2 on Tuesday night. Bembridge’s first win as a Flyer gave his club their third win in a row and gave them a 4-1 edge in the season series.


With the Sher-wood Division leaders in town, the Flyers brought their “A” game in the first period. Tyson Stoesz gave the Flyers the early lead just 1:57 into the opening period. Benji Micflikier’s point shot got stopped by Kings goaltender Dawson Guhle, but Stoesz was right there to pull the puck off Guhle’s pads and stuffed it in the net for his 13th of the season.


With 6:08 to play in the first period the Flyers made it 2-0. Chapen Leblond and Dane Olsen assisted on Jory Mullin’s 16th of the year. Jordan Neduzak scored a beautiful goal just under a minute and a half later to put Winkler ahead 3-0. Anthony Nobili and Daniel Fainman picked up the assists on the Morden native’s 21st of the season.


MJHL leading scorer Jesse Sinatynski scored the Kings first goal on the power-play late in the first period to cut the Flyers lead to 3-1 entering the break. The Flyers were fast and physical in the opening 20 minutes and out-shot the Kings 22-14 in the first.


The Kings pushed back in the middle frame and got to within a goal at the 15:25 mark. Cole Brunet scored for the Kings to cut Winkler’s lead to 3-2. Bembridge and the rest of the Flyers bent but did not break in the second period and took their slim one goal lead into the third.


The Flyers kept the peddle down in the third and caught a break in the opening minutes when Kyle Manlow was awarded a penalty shot. Taking the puck at centre ice, Manlow took it down the right wing and snapped a wrist shot past Guhle to give the Flyers a 4-2 lead.


Bembridge, who was acquired in a trade with Dauphin at the January 10th trading deadline, held his old club at bay in the third period and kicked aside all 14 shots he faced in the final period to keep the Flyers in front.


With 2:24 remaining in regulation, Ben Reinbolt gave the Flyers a three goal cushion with his seventh of the year. Tyler Swerdyliak picked up the lone assist on the goal.


Bembridge was solid all night long in the Flyers crease. He finished the night with 37 saves as the Flyers outshot the Kings 48-39.


It was a complete team effort for Winkler as 11 different skaters made it on the score sheet.


With the win, the Flyers move into sole possession of third place in the Addison Division with a 30-15-3 record. They are now two points up on the fourth place Selkirk Steelers with a game in hand, one point behind the second place Winnipeg Blues with two games in hand, and seven points behind the first place Portage Terriers with one game in hand.


The Flyers finished their season series with Dauphin with a 4-1 record, outscoring them 27-13 in the five games.


Winkler will travel to Steinbach on Saturday night looking for their fourth win in a row. That game can be heard live on 1570 CKMW and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com beginning at 7:25pm.


NOTE: Nate Jose missed the game with a concussion, Dallas Jorgensen missed his third straight game with an arm injury, and Jesse Enns was also forced to miss the game due to a one game suspension.

Game Stats