The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks were rewarded with a 7-4 victory after a long bus ride on Friday night, their first trip to visit the Petrolia Squires.

Petrolia opened the scoring in the 1st period as Breyden Belan beat Jeff Flagler to make it 1-0 for the Squires.

Curtis Johnston would tie it up shortly after on a milestone goal, netting his 100th career goal in a Winterhawks uniform to make it a 1-1 tie.

Petrolia's Jeff Pauley restored the Squires lead but Andy Fracz was able to tie things up to make it a 2-2 tie at the end of the 1st period.

The back-and-forth scoring continued early in the 2nd as Petrolia again grabbed the lead on a goal by Kraig Wright.

Brent MacDermid continued his hot start with a goal to tie it up, then the Winterhawks took their first lead of the night on a goal by James McHaig.

Petrolia's Adam Arsenault would tie things up yet again before the halfway point of the 2nd.

MacDermid's second of the night on the powerplay would restore the Winterhawks lead at 5-4, and Fracz's second of the night would make it 6-4 Winterhawks at the end of the 2nd period.

Johnston would add an insurance marker in the 3rd to make it a two-goal night for him, while Flagler shut the door to preserve the win for the Winterhawks, their fifth straight.

The win improves the Winterhawks record to 5-1-0 on the season and puts them alone in 1st place in the WOAA Sr. Hockey League, one point ahead of the defending champion, Clinton Radars.

The Winterhawks next game is back at home on Remembrance Day, November 11 and will feature camouflage third jerseys to benefit the Royal Canadian Legion.

See: Winterhawks to honour veterans at their November 11 game