Mar 14, 2025 | Winterhawks News | 1116 views
Winterhawks Send it to Game 6
Luke Pither scored late in the 3rd period to send the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks to Game 6.
Pither scored twice in a 3-2 win to allow the Winterhawks to fight off elimination for the second-straight game.
A physical defensive battle ensued from the outset, and scoring chances were hard to come by.
Pither scored his first of the night to open the scoring at 14:18 when Andy Fracz held the Ripley zone, passing the puck back to Theo Peckham at the point.
Peckham sucked the Ripley defenders in and slid a perfect pass to Pither, who had an open net to make it 1-0 Winterhawks.
The Winterhawks held the 1-0 lead through one period.
Ripley had a power play to start the 3rd, and the Winterhawks killed it off, but Ripley continued the pressure.
Clayton Fritsch continued to make his MVP case in the Winterhawks net, turning aside numerous Wolves chances.
Ripley picked up another power play and this time converted, tying the game at 1-1.
Miles MacLean put the Winterhawks ahead again at 15:53 when Andy Mitchell forced a turnover, sending MacLean in alone.
The Winterhawks captain made no mistake, putting the Winterhawks up 2-1.
Ripley tied it with 12-seconds left in the 2nd, sending the game to the third period even at 2-2.
It was white-knuckle time as chances came at both ends, looking to avoid overtime.
The Winterhawks killed a Ripley power play midway through the period.
As it seemed overtime was inevitable, Justin Donnelly sent Pither into the Ripley zone.
Pither wired a shot from the left side into the top corner at 17:30 to give the Winterhawks a 3-2 lead they would not surrender.
Ripley pulled the goalie, but the Winterhawks defensive play held them to only a couple chances.
Fritsch made 31 saves for the win in yet another excellent performance.
The win sends the series to Game 6 at The Plex on Sunday night, March 16th, at 8:00 p.m.