Winterhawks Come Up Short in High Scoring Affair

It was not a fun night to be a goaltender in Thornbury on Saturday.

The Saugeen Shores Winterhawks and Georgian Bay Applekings exchanged goals all night long, with Georgian Bay coming out on top 8-6.

The Winterhawks jumped out in front early, Justin Marlowe scoring 4:27 into the game from Curtis Johnston and Andy Mitchell.

Georgian Bay ended up on the power play immediately after the goal, but it was the Winterhawks who capitalized, as Andy Mitchell stole the puck and hauled it up ice and fired a shot past the Georgian Bay goaltender, all with the defender hanging off of him.

The two-goal lead was short lived, and Georgian Bay tied it up with two goals in just over two minutes to make it a 2-2 game.

Trent Hawke put the Winterhawks back ahead mere seconds after the Applekings tied it, scoring from Justin Donnelly and Lightfoot to give the Winterhawks a 3-2 lead after one period.

The Applekings again tied it early in the second and once again, the Winterhawks responded.

Josh Urbshott scored his first goal as a Winterhawk finding just enough room between the Georgian Bay goalie and the post to squeak one over the line to make it 4-3 Winterhawks, with Theo Peckham and Mitchell assisting.

The lead was short-lived again, as Georgian Bay scored twice late in the period to give the home side a 5-4 lead after two.

A recent trend of poor starts to the third period again haunted the Winterhawks, as Georgian Bay scored on the opening shift of the third, taking a 6-4 lead.

The Winterhawks power play struck to get back to within one with Mitchell connecting for his second of the game, from Peckham and Andy Fracz.

Again, Georgian Bay immediately responded and restored the two-goal lead to make it 7-5.

The Winterhawks picked up another power play late in the third period, and again got back to within one when Peckham fired a low shot through traffic, with Johnston assisting to make it 7-6.

The Applekings were unfazed and responded immediately after the goal to make it an 8-6 game, which is where things ended up.

The Winterhawks will be back on home ice this Friday night, November 8th, at 8:30 p.m. when the Tavistock Royals come to The Plex. Game sponsor is Saugeen Golf Club.