Oct 12, 2024 | Winterhawks News | 718 views
MacDermid leads Winterhawks to Home Opener Win
Brent MacDermid made his return to The Plex count.
The Winterhawks all-time leading scorer notched three goals and added an assist in his first home game in nearly two years as the 'Hawks took a wild 8-4 win over the visiting Durham Thundercats on Friday night.
The night started off with the usual pomp of the home opener, with the team unveiling Miles MacLean as the third captain in team history.
Our friends from Outlaw Brew Co. in Southampton were once again on hand for the home opener, dropping the ceremonial puck to kick off the 2024-25 home schedule.
Once the action got underway, Durham jumped out to a 1-0 early on, just over a minute into the game.
The Winterhawks battled throughout the first, but Durham's rookie netminder Vance Meyer was tough to beat, and held the home team off the board.
Durham captain Kyler Nixon extended the Thundercats lead to 2-0 on a bullet shot that Winterhawks goalie Clayton Fritsch had no chance on.
The Winterhawks came out pressing hard in the second period and finally broke through on Meyer, with Mike Fiegehen getting them on the board with a shot into the top corner as he drove the net. Josh Deyell assisted on the goal.
Durham restored their two-goal lead midway through the period, but Winterhawks came roaring back mere moments later.
MacDermid was sent in alone by Luke Pither, and he cut the Durham lead to 3-2 just 18 seconds later.
Justin Donnelly got the Winterhawks back to even less than a minute later when he tipped in Caleb Morrison's point shot to make it a 3-3 game.
MacDermid put the Winterhawks ahead on the power play with a quick one-timer feed from Donnelly and Pither at 16:36 to make it a 4-3 Winterhawks lead.
It was a milestone goal for MacDermid, who picked up his 350th point as a Winterhawk.
Things got heated when the Thundercats got away with a blatant head check late in the period, setting up a testy third period between the two rivals.
Durham evened the score early in the third period but once again, the Winterhawks had an answer, as Jordan Vanhaelemeesch put them ahead for good 36-seconds after Durham tied the game when he deflected in a Pither shot.
The Thundercats were given every opportunity to tie the game again, when the officials whistled the Winterhawks for four consecutive penalties in a span of just over three minutes, putting the Thundercats on an extended five-on-three advantage.
The Winterhawks penalty killers did an outstanding job limiting Durham's chances, and Fritsch made numerous big saves to keep the score at 5-4.
A power play for the Winterhawks followed and Donnelly made no mistake, putting the home side up 6-4 from Pither and MacDermid.
The exclamation mark came courtesy MacDermid's hat-trick goal at 16:56 from Andy Fracz and Kent Ribey to make it a 7-4 lead.
MacDermid selflessly passed up an opportunity for an empty net goal, but eventually the insurance marker came from Fiegehen to make it an 8-4 final.
No surprise as MacDermid picked up the Wismer House Player of the Game honours with three goals and one assist, with an honourable mention to Pither, who recorded four assists.
The Winterhawks have a long Voyago Road Trip ahead of them next weekend, travelling to Tavistock on Saturday night, October 19th when they tangle with the always-talented Royals. Game time in Tavistock is 7:30 p.m.
50-50 information
Winning ticket number: 4963854
Prize amount: $475
Winner: Cheryl Reiger
Charity: Bruce Shrine Club