Springfield Winterhawks battle back into SEMHL finals

Editor’s Note: This story was written for a March 19th deadline

The Springfield Winterhawks have turned the South East Manitoba Hockey League finals into a series. Down 2-0 to the Ste Anne Aces, the Winterhawks went into hostile territory March 12 and came away with a big 6-4 victory, before nabbing a 3-1 win on home ice March 15 to tie the series.

Fans who packed into the Maurice Chaput Arena were treated to an instant classic, with the Aces taking an early lead only to have the Winterhawks respond with three first period goals. Ste Anne battled back, tying the game on a Jordan DePape marker early in the third period, only for former Ace Keith Grondin to nab two goals, including the game winner to rescue the series for Springfield.

Several members of the Steinbach Pistons were in attendance at game 3 in Ste Anne, with locker room bragging rights on the line. Ty Paisley’s brother, Caleb, suits up for the Aces, while Reece Gault’s father is the general manager for the Winterhawks.

Ste Anne took another first period lead in game four, with Brenden Walker nabbing a first period goal, only for Joel Schreyer to respond just a couple minutes later.

Jason Frykas would nab the game winner moments into the third period, with Quinton Howden adding an empty netter. Steve Christie was outstanding in net for Springfield, stopping 40/41 shots to help his team knot up the series.

Game five went in Ste Anne March 19, finishing after press time. The series will finish with a game in Springfield March 21 and a game seven, if necessary, in Ste Anne March 23. Puck drop would be at 3 p.m.

The SEMHL winner will play the Tiger Hills Hockey League champion in a best of three series for the provincial championship. Killarney and Virden begin their best-of-five final March 21.

The two-time defending champion Minota/Elkhorn C-Hawks dropped out of the THHL this season.

HTJHL

The Niverville Clippers have a 2-1 series lead in the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League finals, as the Springfield Xtreme stayed alive with a critical 5-4 game three victory in overtime March 18.

Chase Janas was the hero, striking five minutes into the first overtime period to avoid a nearly insurmountable 3-0 series deficit.

The Clippers took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission after team captain Teo Lambert struck with 15 seconds to go in the period, before a pair of goals from Springfield gave the home side a lead. Brent Masse evened the game with 3:45 to go in regulation, setting up Janas’ heroics.

Game two featured a scoring flurry in the second period. A pair of Sam Sass goals gave the Xtreme a 2-0 lead, only for Deegan McGarry to strike twice in the span of 20 seconds to tie the game up. After Connor Toth restored the Springfield lead 30 seconds later, McGarry completed the hat trick a minute later. The game turned from a 2-0 Xtreme lead into a 3-3 tie game in under two minutes of game time.

Cole Gratton would ensure McGarry’s second period heroics weren’t for naught, as he notched the game winner early in the third period, with Derek Plett adding on some insurance.

Game four will take place at Niverville March 20, with games on the 22nd in Oakbank and 26th in Niverville. If a game seven is needed it will be in Oakbank March 29.