Wingham Ironmen record win and overtime loss in weekend action

BY DENNY SCOTT

The Wingham Ironmen gained one point towards the third-place position the team lost due to what representatives called a COVID-19 policy administrative error that cost them three December wins.

As a result of a league decision, the Ironmen dropped to fifth place late last month. Over the weekend, however, the Ironmen traded wins with the Bulldogs, earning three points with a win and an overtime loss to make up some lost ground. On Friday night, the Ironmen posted a 2-0 win over Kincardine in Wingham, then on Saturday they were edged out 4-3 in overtime.
As a result, the Ironmen are now three points behind the Bulldogs’ 30 points and five behind the Patriots’ 35 points. The Hanover Barons are firmly in first place with 53 points and are slowly pulling away from the second-place Mitchell Hawks, who have 49.

KINCARDINE 4 - WINGHAM 3
After a tight three periods, the Kincardine Bulldogs required a single overtime period to best the Wingham Ironmen 4-3 in Kincardine on Feb. 26. 

Kincardine’s Jason Taylor opened the scoring for the match with a marker assisted by Ben Nauta and Brennan Long.
Wingham’s Kyle Stanbury responded with his 24th goal of the season, assisted by Ethan Scrimgeour.

The only goal of the second period was a powerplay effort by Wingham’s Matt Tolton, assisted by Stanbury and Evan Visser.
The third period saw Kincardine score two unanswered goals, starting with a powerplay marker scored by Gavin Downs, assisted by Steven Grant and Jordan Beisel. Beisel, with just under two and a half minutes left in the game, scored another powerplay marker for the Bulldogs, assisted by Bryce McFadden and Steven Grant. 

With 31 seconds left in regulation time and a pulled goalie to get the extra attacker, Wingham’s Tanner Reid tied the game with an even-strength goal assisted by Austin McKeachnie.
Kincardine’s Nolan Koetsier earned the final goal, a powerplay effort assisted by Brennan Long.

Garrett Golley was in net for Wingham, stopping 38 of 42 shots, while Ryan Tanner earned the win for Kincardine, stopping 27 of 30 shots.
Wingham served 25 penalty minutes over 13 infractions, resulting in the three powerplay goals that gave the Bulldogs the edge. Kincardine served 15 penalty minutes over seven infractions.

During the first period, Kincardine’s Jeff Fritzley served a two-minute interference penalty followed by Grant, who served two minutes for goalie interference.

Wingham’s first penalty of the game went to Dana Smith, who served a two-minute slashing penalty.
Just over one minute into the second period, Visser was called for hooking, resulting in a two-minute penalty. Following him, his teammates served a string of two-minute penalties, including Nate Bloemberg (high sticking), David Kozak (boarding) and Tolton (cross checking). 

Kincardine served two penalties before the end of the second, including a two-minute cross checking call against Ryan Litt and a two-minute slashing penalty for Long.

After Wingham’s Jonah Burley was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty less than four minutes into the game, an on-ice incident resulted in six penalties being issued from the same play: four against Wingham and two against Kincardine.
Wingham’s Kyle Stanbury was called for fighting (five minutes), fighting (game misconduct) and abuse of officials (game misconduct). Chris Adlys, also of Wingham, served a two-minute cross checking penalty while Carter Servais of Kincardine served two fighting penalties, a game misconduct and a five-minute penalty.

Just past the 13-minute mark, Josh Pham of Wingham and Nauta were each issued a two-minute penalty, for slashing and roughing, respectively. Burley was assessed another two-minute penalty for interference with less than four minutes left in the period.
Wingham’s Bloemberg had the only penalty in overtime, a two-minute hooking call.

WINGHAM 2 - KINCARDINE 0
The Wingham Ironmen used the team’s home-ice advantage to claim a 2-0 victory over the Kincardine Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 25. Despite outshooting the Ironmen 24-19, the Bulldogs couldn’t find the back of the net.

After a scoreless first period, Wingham’s Bloemberg found the back of the net with a goal assisted by Visser and Burley. 
With 10 seconds left in the game, Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer scored a short-handed, empty-net goal, assisted by Wingham goaltender Golley.

Golley earned the shutout, blocking all 24 shots, while Joshua Jacklin was in net for the Bulldogs, stopping 17 of 18 shots.
The Ironmen served 22 penalty minutes on seven infractions while the Bulldogs served 18 on five infractions.
After a clean first period with no penalties, Kincardine’s Kent Ribey was called for interference, serving a two-minute penalty.
Wingham’s Kozak then took a two-minute slashing penalty followed by teammate Adlys being called for hooking, resulting in a two-minute penalty.

With 12 seconds left in the second, an on-ice incident resulted in five penalties: three for Wingham and two for Kincardine. The Bulldogs’ McFadden was assessed two penalties including a two-minute roughing call and a 10-minute inciting-an-opponent penalty. Wingham’s Adlys served the same two penalties while Wingham’s Jacob Rauser, during the same stoppage, was assessed a two-minute holding penalty.

Wingham’s Kyle Smeltzer served a two-minute roughing penalty in the third. Kincardine’s Ribey was assessed a two-minute holding call, followed by Wingham’s Visser serving a two-minute interference call. The last penalty of the game was called against Kincardine’s Liam Colhoun, who was assessed a two-minute interference call at 18:19 in the third.

The Ironmen host two home games this weekend, squaring off against the last-place Goderich Flyers on Friday night before facing the second-place Mitchell Hawks on Sunday afternoon.

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