Winkler Flyers lose in Centennial Cup quarterfinals

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This article was published 23/05/2024 (360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

by CASSIDY DANKOCHIK

Manitoba’s representative at the national junior A championship put together a good showing, but were ultimately felled in the quarterfinals.

The Winkler Flyers earned the right to play in the Centennial Cup by defeating Steinbach in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League finals, and looked in good position to continue their run of success through pool play in Oakville, Ont.

The team didn’t lose in regulation in four round robin games, winning twice and losing in extra time twice, earning a spot in the 10-team tournament’s playoff round, where they were defeated by the Calgary Canucks.

After falling behind 2-0, the Flyers battled back, with Ile des Chenes’ Mike Svenson opening the scoring for Winkler, before Zach Nicolas evened the score in the final moments of the second period.

The comeback attempt was extinguished in the third period when Calgary struck twice in five minutes to put the game away.

The Flyers featured two players from the region, with fellow Ile des Chenes resident Brody Beauchimen suiting up for Winkler as well.

Beauchemin had a goal and two assists in the five games the Flyers played, while Svenson finished with two points.

The two Ile des Chenes players weren’t the only Eastman representatives at the tournament, with La Broquerie’s Briggs Jowett playing for the Navan Grads of the Central Canada Hockey League. The 2003-born Jowett was a member of the Winnipeg Freeze in the 2022/2023 season, and split time between Saskatchewan’s Notre Dame Hounds and Navan this season.

Ontario’s Collingwood Blues won the tournament in dramatic fashion, beating Saskatchewan representative Melfort 1-0 in the tournament final.

Winkler’s Dalton Andrew was named the tournament’s best forward.