Winterhawks' goalie Jeff Flagler was named Wismer House Player of the Game, making 36 saves during the game. Hub photo

The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks exploded for four power play goals as they won their first battle in their semi-final series with the Clinton Radars.

The Winterhawks took Game 1 by a score of 6-3 from the defending league champions.
Clinton got on the board first at 8:46 of the 1st period when Kurtis Bartliff found a loose puck in front of the net, shovelling it past a helpless Jeff Flagler.

Penalties then got the best of the Winterhawks as Flagler took a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass, followed by a James McHaig slashing call to put the Winterhawks on an extended penalty kill.

As the penalty clock wound down, Bartliff found himself alone and had a tap-in one-timer at the side of the net, but Flagler made a miraculous save with his left pad to keep the score at 1-0.

Shortly after play returned to five-on-five, the Winterhawks struck back as Blake Underwood knocked a bouncing puck past Radars netminder Marc Nother to make it a 1-1 tie.

Clinton restored their lead just three minutes later during a stretch of four-on-four hockey when Luke Vick was left alone at the side of the net and was able to beat Flagler to make it 2-1 Clinton.

The Radars found themselves in penalty trouble late in the period as Brendon Haefling converted from the point on a five-on-three with 39 seconds left in the opening frame.
Curtis Johnston would continue the power play momentum with a goal at 6:33 of the 2nd period to make it a 3-2 Winterhawks lead.

Clinton responded on the power play at 12:59 when Deryk Whitehead beat Flagler in close to tie things up at 3-3.

Again, the power play continued to roll along for the Winterhawks, as Brent MacDermid stepped into a slapshot and wired one past Nother at 16:41 to put the Winterhawks up 4-3 after two.

Clinton had a chance early in the 3rd to tie the game, as Sean Consitt got in alone on Flagler, but the big rookie netminder turned away the breakaway attempt to keep the Winterhawks ahead.

That proved pivotal, as Nick Quaid would score on the power play just moments later, stepping in from the point to fire the puck past Nother, with Bryan Kazarian assisting, to make it a 5-3 Winterhawks lead.

Jeff MacDermid would put the game away late, capping off a strong individual performance by brother Brent, arriving at 6-3 final for the home side.

Flagler was rock solid in the Winterhawks net, making 36 saves for the win, taking the honours as the Wismer House player of the game.

The Winterhawks lead the best-of-seven series 1-0, with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday in Clinton. Game time is 8:30 p.m.

with files from winterhawks.net

The crowd watches as Clinton feels the pressure from a Winterhawks attack on their net. Hub photo

Winterhawks' Brent MacDermid (right) and Blake Underwood raise their sticks in celebration of Brendon Haefling's end of 1st period goal. Hub photo

Clinton's Sean Consitt comes in to try and stop Saugeen Shores' Nick Quaid, scorer of the Winterhawks fifth goal of the game, from reaching the Radars' net. Hub photo

Eyes ahead, Winterhawks' Bryan Kazarian looks for a way through the Radars' defence. Hub photo

Trent Hawke battles it out for the puck with Clinton's Josh Cornelissen. Hub photo