The Winkler Flyers played their 2nd game in as many nights inside the newly renovated Winkler Centennial Arena Saturday night
The Niverville Nighthawks, the likely matchup for the Flyers in the first round of the MJHL Playoffs, made their way into the Centennial arena around 5:30pm Saturday afternoon for a night filled with accolades from the Winkler Flyers. Graduating 20 year old players were honoured as this will be the Flyers last home game of the regular season. Nik Gudmundson also received the Steve “Boomer” Hawrysh Award as the leagues MVP.
The puck dropped to a packed house full of Flyers fans, and the Flyers quickly took a 1-0 lead off a Power Play goal from Tanner George (29.) Niverville answered back with a PP goal of their own, but again Tanner George closed the period out with a goal (30) and sent the Flyers to the dressing room for intermission with the 2-1 lead.
The 2nd period saw the Nighthawks score 2 unanswered goals, one again on the PowerPlay to end the period with a 3-2 lead and setting up an exciting finish to the already fast paced, high tension game.
Winkler Flyers Captain Kam Thomas tied the game at 3’s halfway through the 3rd with a no give up play in front of the net to clean up the garbage. The game needed an extra inning to be decided.
The teams traded chances in overtime, but the nighthawks were the ones to take home the victory. Nevertheless, the Flyers secured a point, and had the opportunity to measure up their first round matchup for the MJHL Playoffs.
The Flyers have 2 road games left to close out the season, Wednesday in Winnipeg to take on the Blues, and head to Selkirk Friday for a matchup with the Steelers.
