Saugeen Shores Winterhawks

The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks want to thank our fans, volunteers, Founders Club members, sponsors and everyone else who made our first year in the league such a huge success. We look forward to next season and will see you all back at the rink in the fall. Congratulations to the Tavistock Royals, AA Champions and Palmerston 81s, A Champions. 

Elora wins 2-1 in OT to take the series 4-2. This is a WOAA Senior AA Playoff game they will be talking about for a long time. Both team played tremendous hockey. 

The Winterhawks are down three games to two after a heartbreaking loss to Elora in Saugeen Shores on Friday, March 14. The Winterhawks battled back from an early 3-0 deficit with starting goaltender Troy Loucks getting the hook eight minutes into the first period. Loucks was the victim of bad bounces more than bad play but it was clear Coach Don Matheson needed to do something to shake his team up.The move appeared to work as Al Roach, coming off an injured knee, got the ‘Hawks on the board with Nick Goetz now tending goal. The hometowners narrowed the margin 3-2 with a power play goal by Darryl McKinnon with assists to Brent MacDermid and Greg Thede. Elora jumped into a 4-2 lead early in the second but McKinnon responded, this time on a penalty shot after being hauled down on a breakaway. McKinnon, with Elora goalie Amlinger way out to challenge, made a perfect move to narrow the margin to 4-3.The Rocks went ahead 5-3 but the ‘Hawks continued to fight back with Brent MacDermid narrowing the margin with 10 minutes to go in the game.Ryan Dudgeon tied the game as the Winterhawks killed off one of several consecutive penalties assessed to them in the third but Elora responded to make it 6-5 late in the third.Coach Matheson pulled Goetz for an extra attacker with a minute to go and the ‘Hawks had some great chances but could not get the equalizer. 

• The announced attendance at the game was 1,139
• Bev Davidson of Sauble Beach won the 50/50 draw, taking home $2,034
• Game 6 is tonight (Saturday, March 15)  in Elora starting at 7:30 p.m.
• If a Game 7 is necessary, it will be in Saugeen Shores on Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m.

The Winterhawks will be taking a fan bus to Elora for Game 6 of the semi-finals on Saturday March 15. The coach (washroom-equipped) seats 45 and is scheduled for a 5 p.m. departure from The Plex. To book a spot on the bus, fans can call Gord Lamont at Gord’s Pro Shop at 389-2838. Cost is $20. 

Elora takes Game 4 by a 5-2 score evening the series at 2-2. The next game is Friday, March 14 in Saugeen Shores at 8:30 p.m.

The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks seized a 2-1 series lead over the Elora Rocks in the best-of-seven semi-final with a 7-4 win on Friday, March 7 at The Plex.Darryl McKinnon led the way with a hat trick while linemate Ryan Dudgeon scored a pair. Chad Little and Tim Hammell added singles.A packed house of 1,110 roared its approval all night long in a game that was bookended by Darryl McKinnon goals. The tenacious #10 scored 27 seconds into the game to get the ‘Hawks out of the gate and then finished things off with his third of the game with less than a minute to go in the third.The Winterhawks will travel to Elora on Sunday night for Game 4 with Game 5 set for the Plex on Friday, March 14 at 8:30 p.m.

The Hawks took the overtime loss on Friday night to heart and came out firing on all cylinders as they faced the Elora Rocks in Game 2 of the best of seven WOAA Semi Finals

The ‘Hawks took it to the Rocks right from the first face-off.  It was a very physical game with several huge open ice hits. 

Troy Loucks earned the victory as he stopped 31 of 35 shots. 

Brent MacDermid led the way offensively with three goals, and Greg Thede chipped in with 3 assists.

The ‘Hawks power play was dominant tonight as the team scored on 4 of 12 chances, while the Rocks scored two power play goals (both 5 on 3) on 15 chances.

The next game is Friday night at 8:30 at The Plex.  

Scoring Summary

1. Ryan Dudgeon from Darryl McKinnon and Greg Thede
2. Darryl McKinnon from Ryan Dudgeon and Greg Thede
3. Brent MacDermid from Ryan Crombeen and Greg Thede
4. Brent MacDermid from Chad Little
5. Brent MacDermid unassisted

Elora won the first battle in what is shaping up to be an entertaining semi-final series between the Rocks and the ‘Hawks.It took an overtime period to decide this match in front of a crowd of 990 at The Plex on Friday night. 

Elora jumped out to an early 3-1 lead prompting coach Don Matheson to pull starter Nick Goetz in favour of Troy Loucks eight minutes into the first period. Darryl Henderson pulled the ‘Hawks within one in the second before Elora scored midway through the second to make it 4-2.

The Winterhawks continued to battle as Darryl McKinnon fed a nice pass to Rob Grant who buried it behind the Elora netminder to make it 4-3. Elora jumped out to a 5-3 lead but the ‘Hawks kept rolling with back-to-back  goals from Chad Little and Rob Grant to tie it before losing in the extra frame.

Winterhawks scoring summary

1. Darryl McKinnon from Ryan Dudgeon and Darryl Henderson
2. Darryl Henderson from Kirk Paddon and Jason Hutchinson
3. Rob Grant from McKinnon and Josh Jackson
4. Chad Little from Ian Little
5. Rob Grant from Darryl McKinnon and Ryan Dudgeon 

The Winterhawks travel to Elora on Sunday, March 2 before returning to the Plex on Friday, March 7 for Game 3.

The dates are set for the Winterhawks best-of-seven semi-final playoff series against the Elora Rocks. Advance playoff tickets for Game 1 will go on sale Wednesday, Feb 27 at Gord’s Pro Shop at The Plex and at Scoreboard Sports.

• Game 1 - Friday, Feb. 29 at The Plex in Saugeen Shores at 8:30 p.m.
• Game 2 - Sunday, March 2 in Elora at 7:30 p.m. 
• Game 3 - Friday, March. 7 at The Plex in Saugeen Shores at 8:30 p.m.
• Game 4 - Sunday, March 9 in Elora at 7:30 p.m.
• Game 5 - Friday, March 14 at The Plex in Saugeen Shores at 8:30 p.m. *
• Game 6 - Saturday, March 15 in Elora at 7:30 p.m.*
• Game 7 - Sunday, March 16 at The Plex in Saugeen Shores (Time to be determined)*

* - If necessary

The Winterhawks dispatched the Exeter Mohawks by a 5-4 score on Friday night to capture the best-of-seven quarter final series in five games. 

The Mohawks did not go quietly, however, keeping the 875 fans in attendance on the edge of their seats until the finals buzzer.

Exeter held a 4-3 lead until mid-way through the third when Ryan Dudgeon finished off an absolutely spectacular three-way passing play with Chad Little and Brent MacDermid to tie the score.That set the stage for Jason Hutchinson’s game winner late in the third.

Tim Hammell scored a pair of first period goals including a power play marker and Rob Grant also chipped in a single.

The Winterhawks will now go onto face the Elora Rocks who dispatched their quarter final rivals, the Lucan-Ilderton Jets in four games straight.The Rocks and ‘Hawks faced each other twice during the regular season with each team winning once. The ‘Hawks downed Elora 3-2 in Elora while the Rocks downed the Winterhawks a 5-3 loss with an empty netter in November.

The semi-final playoff schedule will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Winterhawks scoring summary

1st Period

No scoring

2nd Period 

Tim Hammell from Adam Weir and Darryl Henderson

Hammell from Ryan Crombeen and Henderson

Rob Grant from Ryan Dudgeon and Darryl McKinnon

3rd Period

Dudgeon from Brent MacDermid and Chad Little

Jason Hutchinson from Brent MacDermid