Mitchell Hawks have Patriots staring at elimination
MOUNT FOREST – The Mount Forest Patriots are on the brink of elimination following a 4-3 loss to the Mitchell Hawks Saturday night at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.
The win gives Mitchell a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Provincial Junior Hockey League Pollock Division semifinal.
The teams were tied 1-1 at the end of the first period and 2-2 after the second, although the Hawks had an unsuccessful penalty shot in the middle frame. Mitchell added two goals in the third before the Patriots closed the gap to a single goal when they tallied with seven seconds to go.
Blair Butchart connected for a pair of goals for the Patriots while Ryley Cribbin scored the other goal. Assists went to Nathan Bolger, Butchart, Cribbin, Michael Stefanelli, Jack Birkett and Colton Culbert.
Jarett Bogdon had two goals for Mitchell while Tanner Hertel and Kyle Langlois added single goals. Hertel, Ryan Murray, Jake Finlayson, Brett Denny and Max Hall each had an assist.
Mitchell outshot the Patriots 41-32.
Gleb Poliakov had 37 saves in the Mount Forest net while Lucas Bain had 29 for Mitchell.
The Patriots went 2-for-4 on their power play while Mitchell was scoreless on four power plays.
Mount Forest finished atop the division at 33-7-1-1 to receive a bye in the quarter-finals. Mitchell finished fifth at 21-14-2-5 and swept the fourth-place Hanover Barons (23-16-1-2) in the quarter-finals.
Sixth game of the semifinal is set for Sunday at 3:10 p.m. at the Mitchell arena. If the Patriots win that game, they’re to host Game 7 Wednesday starting at 8:30 p.m.
Winner of the series will meet the Wingham Ironmen in the division final. The Ironmen swept the Kincardine Bulldogs in the semifinals after sweeping the Walkerton Hawks in the opening round.
M Hawks 4 Patriots 3
Mitchell 1-1-2–4
Mount Forest 1-1-1–3
Click here for boxscore
- Guelph Sports Journal