Winterhawk Forward Andy Mitchell during the January 27 game against Milverton where the hawks won their fourth game in a row, 8-0. Hub photo
Chris Minard had a hat-trick and Jeff Flagler posted the shutout as the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks ran their winning streak to four games on Saturday night.
The Winterhawks scored early and often as they blanked the Milverton Four Wheel Drives 8-0.
Lauchlin Elder got things going early on, picking up a loose puck in the slot and firing one past Milverton goaltender Aiden Doak to make it 1-0 Winterhawks at 6:21.
The pressure continued as Minard got on the board 1:22 later when he ripped a one-timer past Doak, with assists to Blake Underwood and Nick Quaid.
Quaid and Connor Patton would team up to strip the Milverton defender of the puck and Patton snapped the puck past Doak to make it 3-0 Winterhawks at 9:14.
The Winterhawks would pick up a power play late in the period, and a point shot would sail wide of the net, but MacLean picked up the puck behind the net and stuffed the puck past Doak to give the Winterhawks a 4-0 after the first period, outshooting Milverton 18-3 in the process.
There was no letdown in the 2nd period, as Andy Mitchell broke into the Milverton zone, beating the defenceman wide and popping the puck off the post and into the net, making it 5-0 at 3:19 of the 2nd.
Josh Hopkin made it 6-0 at 8:34 when his point shot beat Doak, with assists to MacLean and MacDermid.
Minard added his second of the night at 10:06 when Bryan Kazarian sent him in alone shorthanded, and Minard tucked the puck between the pads of Doak to make it 7-0.
Late in the period, captain Greg Thede sent a point shot through traffic that beat Doak, but clanked off the post right onto the stick of Minard, who capped off the hat-trick to make it 8-0 after two periods.
Alex Elliott replaced Doak in the Milverton net in the 3rd period, and he put up a perfect frame, but the damage had been done.
The Winterhawks killed off several penalties and Flagler made a few big saves to preserve the 24-save shutout.
MacLean picked up the Wismer House Player of the Game honours with a goal and two assists.
The Winterhawks have won four straight games, outscoring their opponents 37-7 in that stretch.
The regular season wraps up Sunday, January 28 with a trip to Clinton as the Winterhawks attempt to thwart the Radars attempt to complete the 20-0 perfect season.
The game will also determine the Winterhawks playoff opponent, as they can still finish in either 5th or 6th place.
If the Winterhawks win, they will finish 5th and face the Tillsonburg Thunder in the 1st round of the playoffs.
A loss would put the Winterhawks in 6th place and set the stage for a 1st round series with the Durham Thundercats.
Game time in Clinton is 5:00 p.m.
with files from winterhawks.net
Chris King shoots the puck past Milverton’s Andrew Tapsell. Hub photo
James McHaig looks for an open man in the Milverton end. Hub photo
Bryan Kazarian sends the puck to Winterhawk Blake Underwood. Hub photo
After getting knocked into the boards and off his skates Andy Mitchell made sure to stick with the puck. Hub photo
