Mar 07, 2025 | Winterhawks News | 250 views
Do or Die for Winterhawks
If this seems familiar, you're not wrong.
For the second time in three years, the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks find themselves in a 3-0 series deficit against the Ripley Wolves.
The Winterhawks dropped a physical 3-1 decision to the Wolves on Friday evening in Ripley.
It was a physical war from the drop of the puck, with both teams taking liberties all night long, which eventually set off a powder keg.
Early on, both teams had chances here and there, but it was largely a good defensive battle, keeping two offensively talented teams at bay.
Ripley picked up a power play late in the period and made it 1-0 after one period.
The Wolves picked up another power play early in the 2nd, and made no mistake again, extending their lead to 2-0.
It was after that, the fuse was lit.
Ripley's Gerrit Satosek threw a blindside hit to the head of the Winterhawks Andy Mitchell, touching off a response from irate Winterhawks players on the ice, drawing all 10 players on the ice into various forms of fighting.
Once the dust settled, the Winterhawks had a two minute power play, and they used it to their advantage.
Medric Mercier cut the Ripley lead to 2-1 when he and Luke Pither threw the puck back and forth until Mercier let loose a one-timer from the point.
Ripley tried to get the two-goal lead back, but Winterhawks netminder Clayton Fritsch was having none of it, making several highlight reel saves to hold the Wolves at bay.
The Winterhawks pushed for the equalizer in the third period, which included two power play opportunities, but couldn't find a way to get the puck over the goal line.
Ripley finished it off in the final minute with an empty net goal to make it a 3-1 final.
The Winterhawks find themselves in a do-or-die situation, not unlike the 2023 playoffs, when they fell into an 0-3 hole against Ripley and battled back to force Game 7.
They'll have no choice to but to battle back, starting tonight [Saturday] at The Plex for Game 4. Game time is 7:30 p.m.