They didn't enter the playoffs as favourites.
Favourites, however, don't always win. That was the case in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) last year as eight teams entered the chase for the Turnbull Cup in late March. The Steinbach Pistons earned home-ice advantage for their entire playoff run after winning 47 regular season games and finishing with 97 points.
The Winkler Flyers, meanwhile, won 42 games and finished with 89. Regular season and playoffs, two different animals. A team that underperforms in the regular season can all of a sudden catch fire and get hot at the right time. Now it's not like the Winkler Flyers underperformed in last year's regular season, winning 42 games is an incredible year.
They continued to improve with each game and lost only three games in the playoffs. They finely won the Turnbull Cup after downing Portage in five games, Virden in six games, and Steinbach in a clean sweep. It was a season to remember and Jayce the 'Ace' Legaarden of Grandview was front and centre for the run. The former Parkland U-18 Ranger star who scored 46 regular season goals in the 2021-22 season, was excellent in his second full season with the Flyers.
As they went on to win the MJHL, Legaarden scored eight playoff goals and had 11 points after producing 41 regular season points in 42 games. There were very few holes in last year's Winkler team. They were physical, highly motivated and highly skilled. Legaarden said after winning the championship that it was a dream come true and he earned the right to join his team at the Centennial Cup representing Manitoba.
After a shorter-than-regular off-season thanks to the team's extraordinary run, the Grandview star returned to Winkler for one final season and what a year it has been.
"Things are going very well," said Legaarden. "We started pretty slow but we've progressively built as the season has gone on and we're looking pretty good now."
Just as was the case last year, Winkler got better with each passing game. Sitting second place in the league with a record of 24-6-2, the Flyers have reeled off wins in eight straight games and have 14 wins in their last 16. They also have points in 16 straight games and have not lost in regulation since a 3-1 defeat against Portage on November 3.
They are the hottest team in the league and Legaarden believes that is how this team has been built.
"Especially with last year we lost quite a few players, it took some time for everyone to come together and gel," continued Legaarden. "Everyone is tight now and we have a great group of guys with a great dressing room. Everyone is playing towards one common goal, it's great to be here."
While Legaarden was great last year and during his rookie campaign, the 20-year-old from Grandview has taken his game to the next level. Jayce leads Winkler in scoring with 18 goals and 20 assists and he's tied for 10th in league scoring.
Jayce has four multi-goal games this season and has caught fire as of late with 13 points in his last seven games. He had one goal and four assists in a win against Steinbach before the Christmas break.
"The biggest thing is treating every single day with the right mentality," offered Legaarden. "It's important to come to the rink with my work boots on every day, there's no time to take a day off.
The intense schedule of being a junior hockey player isn't for everyone and while that's okay, Jayce has always been the first guy at the rink and the last one to leave. He takes great pride in being a leader and whether it's heading to the rink for practice or a game, Jayce will be there focused and ready to compete.
'It's something that I have just come to develop throughout my junior career," said Legaarden. "I love working on my game and being the best player and teammate that I can. It's worked very well for me."
Jayce has always been a humble young man who knows his success couldn't come without the help of his teammates.
"I mean without them, I wouldn't be where I am," commented Legaarden. "I have some great teammates that push me and I push them. This is a team game and I'm happy that I am able to help our team succeed."
While his main focus is helping Winkler win, Jayce is also keeping tabs on his old team as it just happens his younger brother is doing great things on the ice with the U-18 Rangers. As Parkland sits in a playoff spot in a heated race for the final eight, Cade Legaarden has 11 goals and 24 points and he also made his MJHL debut with the Swan Valley Stampeders last season.
Jayce is proud of his younger brother and will forever be in his corner as his mentor and his loving brother.
"I'm so happy for him, it's nice to see that he's enjoying that success," ended Legaarden. "I've been to a few games down here in this part of the province and back at home as well. He's a great player and he works just as hard as I do, so it's great to see him living out his dream of playing high-level hockey."
The Legaarden family legacy is alive and thriving, and this weekend promises to be another thrilling chapter. Jayce will be carrying the torch as the Flyers hit the road for back-to-back games in Selkirk and Portage, aiming to make a statement.
Meanwhile, Cade is embarking on his own adventure with Parkland, tackling a double-header in Winnipeg against the Thrashers and Teulon against the Lightning
