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Flyer stun Navigators to open NWJHL 1st round series

Feb 21, 2019 | 5:26 AM

The Fairview Flyers have stolen home ice advantage in their 1st round North West Junior Hockey League series with the North Peace Navigators thanks to a 6-5 overtime win in Game 1.

The Flyers got out to a quick start in the contest as they opened the scoring just 1:27 into the opening frame thanks to Zacheri Zchlachter’s 1st of the post-season. The teams would trade power play goals later in the frame.

With a 2-1 lead in the middle stanza, Fairview would extend their lead when Cale Fox found the back of the net with 6:57 remaining in the 2nd.

It appeared the Flyers were going to head into the 3rd with a two-goal lead, but a power play marker by the Navigators with just 30 seconds remaining in the period cut into the Fairview lead and made it 3-2.

That goal sparked the home side for the first few minutes of the 3rd period as Robert Lemay would score shorthanded to tie the game at three just 3:06 into the period.

However, despite letting their lead slip through their hands, the Flyers would respond.

Bailey Tokarz would make it 4-3 Fairview and then just 40 seconds later Liam Yasinski would vault the Flyers to a 5-3 advantage.

With under four minutes to go in the 3rd, the Navs would get back to within one after Jonathan Noskey potted his 2nd of the night and with just 1:19 remaining the home side would tie the game thanks to Robert Lemay’s 2nd of the evening.

After 60 hard fought minutes the Flyers and Navigators needed overtime, but it didn’t take long in the extra frame to find a winner.

Just 20 seconds into the overtime session, Liam Yasinski would score his 2nd of Game 1 to silence the home crowd and send the Flyers back home with a 1-0 series lead thanks to a 6-5 in overtime.

The two teams will resume their best of five series on Friday in Fairview.

That is also when the other 1st round series between the Sundown Oilfield Services Sexsmith Vipers and JDA Kings resumes, which the Kings lead 1-0.