Flyers snatch first victory in thrilling 8-7 battle

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  The Fort St. John Senior Flyers notched their first victory of the 2024-25 North Peace Hockey League (NPHL) season on December 14th.

In a gutsy performance, Fort St. John overcame three deficits to prevail over the High Prairie Regals by a score of 8-7.

Nolan Lagace started the scoring on a shorthanded goal in the first, assisted by Aiden Craig-Steele.  

The Regals responded with a pair from Larry Yellowknee before Alex Nimmo ended the first with his first of two goals, and the score was deadlocked at 2-2 after 20 minutes.

Nimmo put the Flyers ahead in the second before High Prairie scored two goals, from Thomas Cardinal and Nathan Smith, a minute apart.

Zach Ryan again drew things level before Cardinal scored his second, assisted by Jacob Anderson and Drake Cunningham. 

Cunningham had a goal on the power play a minute later, as High Prairie inched ahead 6-5 after two periods.

Ryan scored his second assisted by Lagace in the third, as the teams traded the lead throughout the final frame.

Josh Robinson’s first of the year at just under the 14-minute mark put the Fort St. John on top to stay.

Shots on goal were 44 each, and both teams also went 1-for-5 on the power play. 

Lagace and Nimmo led the way with three points apiece for the Flyers, who will hope to start a winning streak against the Valleyview Jets on December 21st.

The rescheduled date is to make up the original date of December 7th, when the schedule was suspended due to freezing rain conditions throughout the region.

More information about the Flyers is available through the team’s Facebook page.