Nov 08, 2019 | Winterhawks News | 2259 views
Red Hot Winterhawks Blank Clinton
Jeff Flagler posted the shutout as the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks took it to the defending WOAA Sr. Hockey champions Clinton Radars on Friday night at The Plex.
The battle between the undefeated Winterhawks and dynasty from Clinton went back-and-forth early on, as Flagler was called on to make some big saves against the powerful Radars.
Clinton picked up a power play late in the 1st period, but the aggressive Winterhawks penalty killers kept the Radars to the outside and minimized their chances.
In the final moments of the period, Brent MacDermid picked up a breakaway, but lifted a backhander over top of Clinton netminder Greg Dodds and out of play.
The Winterhawks outshot Clinton 11-10 in the opening frame, but the score remained 0-0 after one.
The 2nd period told a much different tale, as the Winterhawks blew it wide open.
Miles MacLean opened the scoring on the power play at 5:16 of the 2nd.
MacLean circled behind the Radars net, sending a pass back to the point to Theo Peckham, who returned it to MacLean for a shot from the top of the circle that beat Dodds up high.
MacDermid also picked up an assist on the goal.
The pressure kept up as the Winterhawks pressed for another, and it came just over two minutes later in the form of a milestone goal.
Connor Patton sent the puck toward the Clinton goal, and Bryan Kazarian knocked the rebound past Dodds, picking up his 100th goal as a Winterhawk.
Kazarian was able to retrieve the souvenir puck, becoming just the third player in franchise history to hit the century mark in goals.
Lauchlin Elder also assisted on the goal, giving the Winterhawks a 2-0 lead.
Late in the middle frame, Clinton got into penalty trouble and the Winterhawks power play made them pay one again.
Six seconds away from killing off a hooking call, the Radars were whistled for a tripping penalty, sending the Winterhawks to an abbreviated five-on-three advantage.
Seven seconds after the puck was dropped, MacLean fired the puck past Dodds for his second of the night, with assists to MacDermid and Andy Fracz, giving the Winterhawks a 3-0 lead heading to the 3rd period.
Careful not to give the Radars any life, the Winterhawks played it safe in the 3rd period, keeping Clinton chances to a minimum.
Patton delivered the final blow 7:50 of the 3rd, pouncing on a Clinton turnover and beating Dodds on the breakaway for the unassisted goal to make it 4-0.
Flagler made the final saves necessary to preserve the shutout and a 4-0 victory for the Winterhawks over Clinton, picking up Wismer House Player of the Game honours in the process.
The win moves the Winterhawks to 7-0-0 and sole possession of 1st place in the WOAA Sr. Hockey League standings.
Another tough test awaits as the 2nd-place Shelburne Muskies will be in town next Friday, November 15th.
Puck drop at The Plex is 8:30 p.m.