THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – The Winkler Flyers (MJHL) broke open a tie game with three unanswered goals in the third period to pull out a 5-2 victory over the Thief River Falls Norskies Friday night in a Canadian Junior Hockey League inter-league exhibition match-up at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Special teams helped supply the first three markers in the opening frame, including two for Winkler supplied by Jayden McCarthy and Brody Moffatt.
Connecting for the Norskies on the man advantage in the session was Brett Piper.
Thief River Falls pulled level with the lone marker in the middle stanza, which was scored at even strength by Boe Bjorge.
Moving on to the final frame, the Flyers picked up the eventual game-winner from McCarthy at 6:10 of the third.
After Moffatt added some insurance at 14:12, Erik Fawkes finished things off in the final seconds.
Drake Burgin dished out two assists to aid Winkler’s offensive cause on a night where the Flyers out shot the Norskies 36-27.
The same two teams will meet again Saturday at the Recreation Centre in Morden, Man., at 7 p.m. CT.