The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks made it three-for-three on the weekend as they picked up a 6-1 victory over the Minto 81's on Sunday evening at The Plex.
It was a loud, enthusiastic crowd at The Plex as dozens of Saugeen Shores Storm minor hockey players made their case to be selected as the team of the night.
The Saugeen Shores Storm U9 girls HL #3 was named our winner of the night, and will receive a practice with Winterhawks players, with a runner-up nod to the U11 LL #4, who were loud and proud all night long.
The two sides came out with speed and energy, despite both playing their third game of the weekend.
Both teams had plenty of power play time in the opening frame, but the penalty kills were top notch and held the game scoreless through the first frame.
The Winterhawks struck first early in the second period on a goal by Mike Fiegehen, who snuck a low shot under the pad of Minto netminder Jonathan Reinhart to make it 1-0 Winterhawks. Curtis Johnston and Justin Donnelly picked up assists on the goal.
Andy Mitchell kept his big weekend going, putting his fourth goal of the weekend past Reinhart when he got around the Minto defender and tucked the puck into the top corner to make it a 2-0 Winterhawks lead, with assists to Medric Mercier and Josh Hopkin.
Minto answered right back moments later to cut the lead to 2-1.
The Winterhawks were able to restore the two goal lead as Brock Pinnell snuck a low shot through Reinhart with 25-seconds left in the period to make it 3-1 Winterhawks heading to the third period. Matt Shields and Jay Thomson assisted on Pinnell's marker.
The third period was decidedly tilted in the Winterhawks favour, who put the game away with authority.
Johnston extended the lead to 4-1 when extended pressure in the Minto zone lead to a loose puck in front of the net at 6:33, with assists to Fiegehen and Donnelly.
The Winterhawks continued the pressure on the Minto zone, and made it 5-1 at 16:40 when a rebound came to Luke Pither, who made no mistake. Assists went to Miles MacLean and Lauchlin Elder.
A scrum after the goal resulted in a Winterhawks power play, and Josh Deyell finished off the scoring 19-seconds later, with assists to Brent MacDermid and Donnelly, who recorded his third assist of the night.
Mitchell was named The Wismer House Player of the Game for scoring the game winning goal as part of his four-goal weekend.
Jeff Flagler made 24 saves in the Winterhawks net for the win in goal, as the Winterhawks outshot Minto 41-25 on the night.
The win improves the Winterhawks record to 10-4-1, good for a four-way tie for 4th place in the WOAA Sr. "AA" Hockey League standings, though the Winterhawks still have games-in-hand to make up on all of the teams around them.
The Winterhawks will be back in action at home this Friday night, January 13th, when they host the Shallow Lake Crushers at The Plex at 8:30 p.m.
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