Flyers sweep Pistons to win Turnbull Cup
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/04/2024 (501 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
For the first time since 1998, the Winkler Flyers are Manitoba Junior Hockey League Turnbull Cup champions after sweeping their best-of-seven championship series against the Steinbach Pistons.
Zach Nicolas scored the championship-clinching goal on a 5-on-3 power play in overtime for a 5-4 victory that sent the Winkler Centennial Arena into a complete frenzy on Friday evening.
The Flyers wasted no time getting on the board when Brandonite Dalton Andrew beat Pistons goalie Cole Plowman, a former Brandon Wheat Kings prospect with roots in the Wheat City, off a rebound just 14 seconds into the game.
Brandonite Dalton Andrew played a pivotal role with the Winkler Flyers during the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s post-season. He finished tied for playoff scoring bragging rights with Josh Lehto of the Virden Oil Capitals, after both players finished with 14 points. The Flyers forward recorded his playoff-best 10th assist during his team's 5-4 overtime victory Friday night. WIth the win, the Flyers swept their best-of-seven Turnbull Cup final 4-0 over the Steinbach Pistons. (Jules Xavier/The Brandon Sun)
However, Connor Paronzunni knotted the game at 1-1 a few minutes later on a nice passing play.
Steinbach took the lead near the midway point of the first on a quick strike from forward Jackson Kostiuk for his fifth goal of the post-season.
Fifteen seconds later, Flyers forward Brody Beauchemin jumped on a loose puck and tied the game at 2-2.
On a late Pistons power play, Winkler’s Jayce Legaarden of Grandview made a block near the blue line and sprung himself on a breakaway, beating Plowman to give the Flyers a one-goal lead heading into the middle period.
In the back half of the second, Avery Anderson picked up a loose puck at the side of the Pistons net and skated around to the slot before he spun and fired in a big goal to put the Flyers up 4-2.
The Pistons certainly wouldn’t quit, down two late in the third. Jack Cook and Jamie Fuchs connected on a nice two-on-one passing play where Fuchs scored his third of the playoffs.
With Plowman on the Pistons bench for the extra attacker, Parker Jasper tied the game with 39 seconds left, sending Game 4 to another extra time in this championship series.
In overtime, the Pistons took a pair of penalties, giving the Flyers a 5-on-3 man-advantage.
Off the cycle, Zach Nicolas tapped in the game-winner off a pair of quick passes from Trent Penner and Brody Beauchemin, giving the Flyers their first Turnbull Cup championship since the 1997-98 season.
The other players from the area on Winkler’s roster are forward Nich McKee of Treherne and defencemen Nolan Wickham of Waskada and Brandt Young of Neepawa.
Winkler goaltender Malachi Klassen was named the most valuable player of the Turnbull Cup playoffs, finishing with a 12-3 win-loss record, a 2.07 goals-against average and an impressive 0.923 save percentage.
With his assist, Andrew finished second in the playoff scoring race with four goals and 10 helpers for 14 points in 15 games.
Josh Lehto of Virden won the scoring race based on a better goal differential. Eliminated by Winkler in the west division semifinal, the Oil Kings forward finished with five goals and 14 points in just 12 games.
During the regular season, the 2003-born Andrew also led the Flyers in scoring with 43 goals and 82 points in 54 regular season games. He had 27 points on the power play and recorded seven game-winners for Winkler.
The Flyers organization earned their fourth Turnbull Cup national Junior A championship, having won during the 1990-91, 1991-92, 1997-98 and now the 2023-24 MJHL season.
Winkler is now making its second appearance in the Centennial Cup national championship, with the team also attending back in 1992.
The nine-team Centennial Cup tournament will be held in Oakville, Ont., from May 9 to 19.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Calgary Canucks, Sioux Lookout Bombers from the Superior International Junior Hockey League, Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Great Sudbury Cubs and host Oakville Blades have already qualified for the national tournament.
» The Brandon Sun