Defenceman Trevor Smith gained control of the puck during the first period. Hub photo

The goals came early and often as the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks came out ahead of the Elora Rocks on Friday night at The Plex.

Ten different players scored as the Winterhawks defeated the Rocks 13-2 to move closer to solidifying a playoff spot.

Trent Hawke opened the scoring just as a power play had ended at 8:02 of the 1st period, scoring from the seat of his pants, thanks to a feed from Bryan Kazarian.

Jacob Brown picked up his first goal of the year later in the period on the power play, followed by Josh Hopkin deflecting a point shot off an Elora defender to make it 3-0 Winterhawks after two.

The floodgates opened in the 2nd, as the Winterhawks struck five times.

Andy Mitchell beat Elora netminder Steve Medland at 1:16, Lauchlin Elder buried a shot in the slot at 10:05, with assists to Brent MacDermid and Chris King.

Kazarian made it 6-0 just 11 seconds later, with assists to Chris Minard and Hawke, followed by Mitchell’s second of the night less than two minutes later to run the score to 7-0.

Elora would get a couple back, including a power play marker past Jeff Flagler to make it a 7-2 game, but Elder would make it 8-2 before the period was over, when a deke attempt slid off his stick and the puck slid through a crowd past Medland.

Miles MacLean got in on the action at the 3:00 mark of the 3rd period, burying a rebound from Justin Ainslie and MacDermid.

Kazarian added his 2nd of the night on the power play to make it 10-2, followed by Minard, Andy Fracz and MacDermid late in the 3rd to arrive at a 13-2 final score.

The Winterhawks out-shot Elora 57-22 in a game that was dominated from start-to-finish.

The win moves the Winterhawks into 7th place in the WOAA standings, and will look to continue climbing next Friday night, January 19th, when the Lucknow Lancers visit The Plex for an 8:30 p.m. start.

with files from winterhawks.net

Winterhawk James McHaig following a break away shot on net against Elora Rocks, January 12. Hub photo

Winterhawks Aeric Annetta swiped the puck from Elora Rocks Gavin Connell-Helle. Hub photo

Winterhawks forward Chris McHaig ices the puck at centre ice. Hub photo

Forward Andy Mitchell sets his sights on the puck currently in the hands of Ago Curtosi. Hub photo

Josh Hopkin with his shot that slinked past Elora goaltender Steve Medland. Hub photo