Wingham Ironmen post back-to-back wins to finish season

BY DENNY SCOTT

With no further games scheduled, the Wingham Ironmen sit in fifth place after posting two wins over the weekend, toppling last-place Goderich and blanking second-place Mitchell.

The Ironmen, who sat in third place until a league decision regarding a COVID-19 non-compliance issue several weeks ago, ended the regular season in fifth place with 34 points, one point behind the fourth-place Kincardine Bulldogs, who had 35 points. Mount Forest is in third with 39, while Mitchell and Hanover had a large lead over the rest of the North Pollock Division with 51 and 53 points, respectively.

WINGHAM 2 MITCHELL 0
On Sunday, March 6, the Ironmen hosted the Mitchell Hawks in both teams’ last scheduled game of the regular season. The Ironmen were able to both shut-out and upset the Hawks by a score of 2-0, despite Mitchell outshooting Wingham 31-26.
Evan Visser scored Wingham’s first goal, which was a powerplay effort, assisted by Josh Lorenz and Nate Bloemberg. The second goal of the game, an empty-net opportunity scored in the last minute of the contest, was netted by Austin McKeachnie, assisted by Josh Pham and Wingham goaltender Garrett Golley.

Golley earned the win for the Ironmen and a shut-out, stopping 31 shots while Tyler Parr of Mitchell stopped 24 of 25 shots on him.

The match proved to be a heavily-penalized game for the Hawks, who posted 38 penalty minutes on 11 infractions, while the Ironmen posted 16 on eight infractions.
Wingham’s Visser had the first penalty of the game when he was assessed a two-minute tripping penalty.

Mitchell’s Tyson Hall then served a two-minute too-many-men penalty, followed by teammate Caleb Musselman serving a two-minute roughing penalty.

Wingham’s Brandon Stewart was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty before an altercation just past the 15-minute mark of the first period resulted in three penalties. Mitchell’s Carter Lewis was assessed two head contact penalties - two-minute and 10-minute penalties - while Wingham’s Payten Wheeler was assessed a two-minute cross-checking penalty.

The third period saw Patrick Holloway assessed a two-minute holding penalty, followed by Wingham’s Lorenz serving a two-minute interference penalty.

Mitchell’s Mark Cassidy was assessed a four-minute tripping major before Wingam’s Kyle Smeltzer was assessed a two-minute goalie interference penalty.

The last penalty of the third went to Mitchell’s Nolan Gagnier, who was assessed a two-minute holding penalty.
The third period started with another three-penalty incident as Mitchell’s Ryan Murphy was assessed both a two-minute and a 10-minute checking-from-behind penalty, while Wingham’s McKeachnie was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty.
Wingham’s Dana Smith served a two-minute high sticking penalty, after which Charlie Rankin of Mitchell served a two-minute slashing penalty. 

The final penalty of the game went to Wingham’s Jacob Rauser, who served a two-minute tripping penalty.

WINGHAM 5 GODERICH 2
The Wingham Ironmen dominated the Goderich Flyers 5-2 on March 4 by posting a 5-2 win over the last-place team. The Ironmen more than doubled the visiting Flyers in both score and shots, with the Ironmen outshooting the Flyers 55-27.
Goderich’s Colton Quipp struck early for the Flyers, earning a goal just over a minute into the first period. The marker was assisted by Ethan Hill and Kyler Patterson.
Wingham’s Tanner Reid responded with an unassisted marker.

Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer scored the only goal of the second period, a powerplay marker assisted by Matt Tolton and Jonah Burley.

Goderich’s Keegan Greer responded early in the third with a powerplay marker of his own, assisted by Peter Gibbings, however Wingham would respond with three unanswered goals to secure the win.

Burley scored first for the Ironmen, assisted by Fahrer, before Chris Adlys scored an unassisted goal. Josh Pham then earned an empty-net goal, assisted by Stewart and Smeltzer. 

Wingham’s Devon Carson got the win for the Ironmen, but shared netminding duties with Golley. Carson played the majority of the game and stopped 24 of 26 shots, while Golley stopped one of one, playing for several minutes in the third period. Goderich’s Ryan Murray stopped 50 of 54 shots on him.

The Goderich Flyers served 17 penalty minutes on seven infractions, while the Ironmen served 18 minutes on five infractions.
The first penalty of the game, and the only penalty of the first period, was called against Tikai Baldwin of Goderich, who was assessed a five-minute tripping penalty.

Goderich’s Ethan Hill was assessed the second penalty of the game, the first in the second period, with a four-minute tripping call.
Wingham’s Ben Wyatt was then assessed two-minute and 10-minute penalties for head contact.

Goderich’s Hill then served a two-minute slashing call, followed by teammate Quipp, who was given two minutes for hooking.
Wingham’s Trevor Klee served a two-minute hooking penalty early in the first. He was followed by four two-minute tripping penalties to end the game. First, Goderich’s Quipp served a two-minute tripping penalty, followed by Wingham’s Smith and Adlys and Goderich’s Connor Hill.

For more information, visit winghamironmen.pjhlon.hockeytech.com