Aaron Lewadniuk scored a hat trick and set up the game-winning goal as the Winkler Royals earned a 6-5 overtime victory over the Red River Wild on Saturday, Jan. 17, in South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League action.
Lewadniuk opened the scoring early in the first period and added two late third-period goals to force overtime, helping the Royals erase multiple deficits in a back-and-forth contest.
Winkler took a 2-0 lead midway through the opening frame on goals from Lewadniuk and Brett Bergman before Red River answered late in the period. The Wild briefly seized control in the second, scoring twice in under a minute, but Braden Hildebrand pulled the Royals back within one with a goal at 13:24.
Red River extended its lead early in the third period, but Winkler refused to go away. Lewadniuk struck twice in the final two minutes of regulation — including the tying goal with one minute remaining — to send the game to overtime.
In the extra frame, TJ Matuszewski sealed the comeback, scoring the winner at 4:35 to complete the Royals’ dramatic rally.
Goaltender Matthew Thiessen was busy in the Winkler crease, stopping 44 shots to earn the win, while Red River netminder Jayden Catellier made 43 saves in the overtime loss. Special teams proved even on the night, with Winkler going 0-for-2 on the power play and Red River finishing 0-for-3.
The win keeps the Royals competitive in the tight SEMHL standings as they prepare for a pair of upcoming home games.
Coming up, Winkler hosts the Morden Bombers Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and then hosts the Wild next Tuesday night.
Red River, meanwhile, hosts Portage Friday and Notre Dame Sunday.
