The High River Flyers had a blissful weekend as they picked up four points and strung two wins together for the first time this season.
Neither win was easy, as both games took extra time.
The Flyers have been getting comfortable in close games as they have gone to extra time in five of their last seven games. High River finished off the Coaldale Copperheads with a 5-4 win in OT on Friday and then beat the Three Hills Thrashers 6-5 in a shootout on Saturday.
The Flyers also welcomed back Ethan Burgeson after he started the season with the Carstar Okotoks Bisons. Burgeson was a difference-maker in his return as he posted seven points and scored the overtime winner against the Copperheads on Friday. In the game against Coaldale, he would produce three points and then add another four in Saturday's tilt against the Three Hills Thrashers.
In Friday's game at Bob Snodgrass Recreational Complex, Rodie John Pickens opened the scoring with a powerplay goal for the Flyers in the first period, with Kaycee Bearspaw and Evan Thachuck getting the helpers.
Lucas Hughes would make it a 2-0 game five minutes later with help from Burgeson and team captain Wout Rehorst.
Caden Heins got the Copperheads on the board three and a half minutes later after popping in his 12th of the season, cutting the Flyers lead to just one. Carson Grimeau responded with a goal of his own to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead late in the period.
Burgeson gave High River a three-goal lead with his first of the night coming early in the second period, Hughes and Rehorst picked up an assist each on the goal. The Copperheads would tie the game up after getting three goals in thanks to John Vanden Elzen, Brandon Creighton, and Brett Hudey.
Burgeson and the Flyers stopped the Copperheads' comeback short in overtime with the game-winning goal in overtime. Pickens and Bearspaw got the assist on the Burgeson marker to win the game.
Kaiden Fulton made the start in net and picked up the win after making 34 stops on 38 shots.
Saturday the Flyers were in Three Hills to face the Thrashers. Lucas Billings opened the scoring 8:01 into the first period.
High River responded with a powerplay goal from Ethan Miller with Rehorst and Burgeson picking up points on the goal. Burgeson would follow it up with a shorthanded goal with under 30 seconds left in the first frame which went unassisted.
Miller was a hot hand in Saturday's game as he completed his hat trick with another two powerplay goals in the second period. Burgeson and Hughes picked up two assists each on the two powerplay goals from Miller in the second period. Riggs Ringdahl cut the Flyers lead to two with under a minute left in the period.
Three Hills tied the game up in the third period with goals coming from August Olson and Bryce Fenton. Evan Thachuk answered back with the Flyers' second shorthanded goal on the night and Thachuck's first goal of the season. Parker Gamble picked up the assist.
Austin Corsiatto for the Thrashers tied things up at 5-5 with less than five minutes remaining in the third period. Overtime would solve nothing in the game against Three Hills as it went to a shootout.
Kashton Payne was in net for the Flyers making 44 saves on 49 shots. Payne would stop the final shooter for the Thrashers to give the Flyers the win as Miller, Burgeson, and Hughes all scored on their shootout attempts.
The Flyers will host the Medicine Hat Cubs on Friday (Nov. 22) and then head to Red Deer for their game against the Vipers on Saturday to continue their HJHL season.