Bykowski gets his first win as a Terrier in his first appearance with 31 saves against OCN Saturday night.
Terriers were on the road to Winkler Friday for the first time this season.
In pre-game ceremonies a cheque presentation was made to Graham Shindle, former Winkler Flyer and Braden Pettinger’s cousin on behalf of the Winkler Royals, Morden Red Skins and Winkler Minor Hockey. The amount raised was $9400 along with the Flyers announcing they would be donating Friday night’s 50/50 and gate which has yet been announced.
In just their 2nd meeting this season, Winkler winning the last battle on November 18th, the Terriers were looking for some pay back. The first period proved to be a tight match with no scoring. The Terriers started the 2nd on the power-play and Brad Bowles would convert that in to a lead just 14 seconds in to the period. Winkler would put up a power-play marker of their own a little over halfway through the frame. Brad Bowles would strike for the second time tucking one by Slipp heading in to intermission with the 2-1 lead.
It wasn’t long in the 3rd when the Flyers would tie it up on a Jarvis goal. The Terriers would again find themselves on the power-play and Orr would score a beauty from the top of the circle for a 3-2 lead.
The Flyers had a big opportunity to tie the game when Santin took a five minute penalty for head contact with just under 9 minutes to go, but the Terriers were relentless and killed the penalty holding the Flyers to just one shot and the eventual win.
Winkler outshot Portage 29-24, Park making 27 saves for the win.
The Terriers would then head home to host the OCN Blizzard for their 2nd game in two nights. The Terriers would suit up without veteran defenceman Brett Orr and Dean Stewart as they are in Leduc, Alta taking part in the Canada West tryout for the Junior A. Challenge.
Like the night before in Winkler, the first period would be scoreless. The Blizzard were first on the board in the 2nd with a bardown snipe on newcomer Bykowski from Brady Keeper on the power-play. Brakel would answer on the power-play for Portage and the teams would head in to the dressing room tied at one.
The third would start and the floodgates would open with Shawn Bowles tucking a loose puck past Boily 31 seconds in to the frame on a power-play. Just 10 seconds later Sokoloski would bury his 2nd in 3 games for a 3-1 Terrier lead. Macdonald would follow up with another marker at the 4:51 point of the period then get tossed shortly after for dropping the gloves with Lantz Hiebert completing the Gordie Howe hat trick of a fight, a goal and an assist all in one game.
Shawn Bowles would then redirect a Brad Bowles shot to take a 4 goal lead at 7:45 of the 3rd and the game was out of reach for the Blizzard. Laithlin would find the back of the net to pull within 3, but the Terriers would earn 2 points with the win and retain first place in the MJHL 7 points ahead of the 2nd place Winkler Flyers.