WINKLER, MB– Conor Geekie scored his 1st MJHL goal 3:47 into the second period, and Kyle Kozma stopped 17/19 as the Virden Oil Capitals defeated the Winkler Flyers 5-2.
It was a very paced opening five minutes that saw both teams get good scoring chances in the first period. Braeden Lewis had the best chance of the period as he rang one off the pipe early in the opening frame. After an Oil Caps turnover in the neutral zone, the Flyers made them pay. Ian Tookaney jumped on a loose puck and made a move around Kozma to make it 1-0 Winkler. But the Oil Caps answered right back. Brett Paddock picked the puck up in the neutral zone and took it coast to coast, making a move around the defender and the goalie to tie the game at one, in what was a great individual effort on Paddocks end. No team was officially credited with a man-advantage, but two separate infractions caused coincidental penalties. Winkler held the shot advantage after the first 20, 9-7.
In the middle frame, the Oil Caps blasted the game open. First, Connor Geekie found some time and space and ripped his first MJHL goal short side to make it 2-1. Then they were awarded a five-minute powerplay when Flyers forward Tanner Andrew as assessed a boarding major for hitting Cloutier from behind. The Oil Caps quickly went to work. Defenceman Logan Rands snuck backdoor, took a feed from Brett Paddock and deposited it in the net to make it 3-1. Moments later, still on the powerplay, Dylan Halliday was able to jam a loose puck home to extend the lead to 4-1. The Oil Caps controlled most of the middle frame outshooting the Flyers 15-3.
The chippiness continued in the third period, as both teams showed there was no love lost between the two divisional rivals. The Oil Capitals went back forth with the Flyers in the final frame. Roux Bazin ripped a puck from the slot bar down to make it 5-2 Oil Caps. The Flyers added a late goal to make it 5-2.
Assistant Coach Reid Gow was impressed with the team’s play over the weekend.
“From our goaltending out, I thought it was our best effort of the year,” said Assistant Coach Reid Gow. “The ability to string two games together back-to-back like we have this weekend is a great step in a long season. We have to credit our special teams’ players as they gave us the energy and momentum we needed”, added Gow
With the win, the Oil Caps extend their winning streak to four and move to 5-0-1 on the season.
These two teams will play against next weekend, with another home and home.