Virden, MB- Daemon Hunt scored 8:19 into the third period to give the Oil Caps a 3-2 lead that they would hold the rest of the way, as they were victorious over the Winkler Flyers for the second time in as many nights. The Oil caps extended their winning streak to six in a row.
It wasn’t the best of starts for the home side in the opening frame, a familiar sight lately in Oil Capitals first periods. Early in the first period, Daemon Hunt got the gate for hooking, giving the Flyers a powerplay, and Kolton Shindle made the Oil Caps pay, beating Kozma cross-crease to make it 1-0. Five minutes later, the Flyers struck again. This time it was Mike Svenson scoring his fourth of the year to make it 2-0. Kyle Kozma got the start for the Oil Capitals and stopped 5/7 in the opening frame.
In the second period, the Oil Caps started to find their stride. After Flyers defenceman Kaeden Tenkoppel was sent to the box for tripping, the Oil Caps went to work on the Powerplay. After some excellent puck movement in the offensive zone, the puck found Daemon Hunt, and he ripped a shot through traffic that beat a screened Reid Dyck to bring the Oil Caps back within one. Both sides then got chances on the Powerplay, but neither team was able to convert. Then with seven minutes left in the middle frame, right after a media timeout, the puck found Branden Huminuk’s stick, and he slipped in five-hole to tie the game at two. The goal was Huminuk’s first MJHL goal. The Oil Caps outshot the Flyers 14-6 in the second period.
Early in the final frame, the Flyers came close on numerous try’s on snatching the lead again, but Kozma stood tall, as he did many times in Winkler, Friday night, bailing the Oil Caps out on the road. After many back and forth opportunities for both sides, the clock ticked under the 10-minute mark, still tied at two. Until Daemon Hunt let a shot go through traffic and again beat a screened Dyck, giving the Oil Caps a 3-2 lead. Hunt, in his second game in an Oil Caps uniform, has three goals and an assist has given the Oil Caps a boost on the back end. Hunt was named the first star of the game. The Oil Caps ended up going 1/5 on the Powerplay, a rare night off for a powerplay that was clicking north of 35% coming into the hockey game. The Oil Caps outshot the Flyers 29-25.
Kyle Kozma is the goaltender of record and moves to 6-0-1 on the season, with a 2.42 GAA and a .919 SV%. Has emerged as one of the best goalies in the MJHL, liked his teams compete in the game, and that never say die attitude.
“We’ve shown that we are a good third-period team,” said Kozma. “This team has been resilient all year long, and have come back many times already, we never give up in games, and battle to the very end, it was nice to get the win tonight, now we shift our focus to OCN, a team that will be hungry for their first win of the season. We cannot take them lightly,” Kozma explained.
With the win, the Oil Caps move to 7-0-1 on the season and will now welcome the OCN Blizzard to town. The pair of games were scheduled to be held up north, but with COVID-29 concerns, the teams agreed to play the games at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. Puck drop will be 7:30, both Thursday and Friday night. Season Ticket Holders have until Tomorrow at 3:00 PM to call in and purchase your tickets.
Ticket Prices:
Adult: $ 10.00
Senior: $ 8.00
Youth: $ 5.00
Written by: Blake Friars