MOUNT FOREST – Following a 6-3 victory on March 5 against the Mitchell Hawks, the Mount Forest Patriots now head into a best-of-seven Pollack Division final series against the Wingham Ironmen.
In the first period, Mount Forest’s William Black made it to the scoreboard first assisted by Blair Butchart and Ryley Cribbin. Adding another goal shortly thereafter was Patriots’ Jack Birkett, assisted by Michael Stefanelli and Nathan Bolger.
Mitchell scored twice in the first period as well.
Brett Denny scored on a power play, assisted by Tanner Hertel, while Zach Dow earned an unassisted goal.
In the next period, Mount Forest’s Stefanelli scored unassisted while teammate Cribbin scored his goal on a powerplay assisted by Butchart and Birkett.
Mount Forest’s Cribbin scored the first goal of the third period on a power play, assisted by Butchart and Bolger.
Mitchell’s Charlie Rankin scored next, assisted by Tyson Hall and Kyle Langlois.
The final goal of the game and the series was scored by Mount Forest’s Jack Birkett, unassisted on an empty net.
The 6-3 victory over the Hawks moved the Patriots to the next series where they face the Wingham Ironmen.
Next Round
The Patriots faced off against the Ironmen on March 7 and 8.
On March 7, the Patriots earned a 3-2 overtime victory on home ice.
Ironman Trevor Donaldson scored the first goal of the game and the only goal in the first period. He was assisted by Tanner Reid and Corey Restoule.
The Ironmen scored their second (and last) goal of the game early in the second period. Kyle Stanbury made the shot assisted by Rhys Vollmer and Justin Donnelly.
Shortly thereafter, Patriot William Black scored, assisted by Riley Torrie and Troy Weber.
Early into the third, the Patriots evened the score at 2-2 on a shot by Cribbin, assisted by Butchart and Hayden Coulter.
Four minutes into overtime, Mount Forest’s Coulter, assisted by Butchart, scored the winning goal.
On March 8, the Ironmen returned the favour as the team was on its home ice in Wingham and earned a 4-1 win over the Patriots.
Wingham scored the first two goals of the first period. The Ironmen initially got on the scoreboard with a shot by Logan Tolton assisted by Chase Meurs and Brady Becker.
Tolton’s second goal of the period was unassisted.
Mount Forest’s Troy Weber earned the next goal assisted by Dawson Bolger and Parker Miller.
Wingham recaptured its lead with a power play goal by Becker assisted by Tolton and Meurs. The Ironmen capped off the game late in the third as Meurs, unassisted, scored on an empty net, ending the game in a 4-1 win.
Additional games are scheduled for March 14, 15, 18, 20 and 21.
