The Winkler Flyers went 2-for-4 on the power-play in a 4-1 win over the Neepawa Natives to conclude the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Showcase in Winnipeg. Sulivan Shortreed led the way with two goals and an assist to help the Flyers win for the third time in their last four games.
After dropping a 5-2 decision to the Portage Terriers the day before, the Flyers travelled back to the Seven Oaks Arena in Winnipeg in search of their third win of the season against the winless Natives.
It was a good start for the Flyers who jumped on the Natives early and raced out to a 2-0 lead just over seven minutes into the game. The first goal came on the power-play when Sulivan Shortreed took the puck behind the Neepawa net and spotted Drake Burgin creeping in from the point and he made no mistake in giving Winkler a 1-0 lead, 6:02 into the game.
Then just seventy two seconds later, defenseman Nathan Poolman made a nice move at the Neepawa blueline and picked the top corner for his first as a Flyer doubling Winkler’s lead. Outshooting Neepawa 12-3, the Flyers took their two goal advantage into the first intermission.
The Flyers added to their lead early in the second when Alex Cattani and Justin Svenson assisted on Shortreed’s fifth of the season. That goal increased the point streaks for all three skaters to four games. The Natives did get on the board soon after and Winkler carried their 3-1 lead into the third.
Then with 7:55 to play in regulation, Shortreed scored again, this time on the power-play and Winkler had increased their lead to 4-1. Bryce Krauter and Mateo Albinati drew the assists on Shortreed’s MJHL leading sixth goal of the year. Krauter now leads all MJHL skaters with seven assists.
That would be all the offense Winkler would need as they would coast the rest of the way to their third victory of the season.
Dorrin Luding earned the win in goal for the Flyers making 24 saves as the Flyers outshot Neepawa 42-25. Winkler went 2-for-4 on the power-play and 4-for-4 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers (3-3-0) will travel to Waywayseecappo to play the Wolverines on Friday night. Puck drop at the Waywayseecappo Arena is 7:30pm with Matt Friesen’s pregame show on Country 88 and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com getting underway at 7:25pm. You can also catch the game live on www.hockeytv.com