The Winkler Flyers offense came to play in the final game of their four game homestand as they beat the Neepawa Natives 10-3 on Saturday night. Chapen Leblond and Kyle Manlow each recorded six points and Altona native Joey Braun scored his first MJHL goal as the Flyers moved to within three points of the first place Portage Terriers.


After beating the Selkirk Steelers 6-3 the night before, the Flyers scored early and often against the Natives. Neepawa product Ward Szucki got the ball rolling just 2:47 into the hockey game banging home his 19th of the season to give Winkler a 1-0 lead. Ian Humphreys and Daniel Fainman drew the assists. Kyle Manlow, who had three points the night before gave Winkler a 2-0 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the period. The Flyers would score again before the break to make it a 3-0 game. Ward Szucki and Daniel Fainman each picked up their second point of the period assisting on Jordan Neduzak's 23rd goal of the season with 1:56 to play in the period.


The Flyers kept the peddle down in the second period and continued to build on their lead. Former Native Dane Olsen scored his first as a Flyer, 8:13 into the second period to put the Orange and Black ahead 4-0. Around five minutes later Chapen Leblond pushed the Flyers ahead 5-0 scoring his 29th of the season with the help of Kyle Manlow and Tanner Jago.


Exactly one minute later, Leblond fed Tyler Swerdyliak a beautiful pass and the Grande Pointe product slipped home his 12th of the season to put Winkler ahead by six. With the Flyers firmly in control of the game they kept on coming late in the second. Olsen snapped in his second of the game from the right point to increase the lead to 7-0 with 2:20 remaining before the break.


However, Neepawa would get one of their own on the power-play in the final minute of the period to cut Winkler's lead to 7-1 after 40 minutes.


The two teams traded goals to start the third period with Leblond potting his second of the game and 30th of the season just under seven minutes into the period. Robby Moar scored for Neepawa just over two minutes later to cut the Flyers lead to 8-2. Then at the half way point of the period the Flyers won a faceoff in the Neepawa zone. Jory Mullin pushed it ahead and flipped it towards the front of the net where Altona native Joey Braun was waiting to slap it in for his first Manitoba Junior Hockey League goal. Leblond added his fourth assist of the game on the goal that gave Winkler a 9-2 lead.


With 6:49 to play, the Natives added their third of the game to get to within six. But the Flyers were just too much for Neepawa on this night as Manlow scored his second of the game and 21st of the season with 4:34 left in the game to give Winkler a 10-3 win.


It was a pretty clean game in terms of penalties. The Natives scored once on three power-play opportunities, and did not take any penalties themselves.


Corey Koop made 34 saves earning his 21st win of the season as the Flyers out-shot the Natives 47-37.


It was a well rounded effort for Winkler as 13 of the 18 skaters recorded a point, eight players had multi-point games, while Chapen Leblond and Kyle Manlow each had six points. With 10 points in his last two games and 25 points in his last 12 games, Flyers captain Chapen Leblond has jumped up to second spot in the MJHL scoring race with an even 70 points (30 goals, 40 assists) in 53 games.


With seven wins in their last eight games, the Flyers have moved to within three points of the Addison Division leading Portage Terriers. The Flyers are also just one point behind the second place Winnipeg Blues with two games in hand.


Winkler will head to Waywayseecappo on Monday for a date with the Wolverines. The Flyers are 2-1 against Waywayseecappo this season as the Wolverines continue to battle for their playoff lives in the Sher-wood Division. They are seven points behind the third place Swan Valley Stampeders for what will likely be the final playoff spot in that division.


You can catch that game live on 1570 CKMW and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com with Matt Friesen's pre-game show at 7:25pm.

Game Stats