The South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League championship series between the Winkler Royals and Ile des Chenes Northstars is all square at two games apiece after a back-and-forth opening four games in the best-of-seven final.
Brett Stovin on the attack
Winkler struck first with a 3-0 victory in Game 1 on March 15, but Ile des Chenes responded with a pair of wins to take control of the series before the Royals bounced back with a shutout of their own in Game 4.
Game 2 on March 18 saw the Northstars even the series with a 7-4 win on home ice in a contest that featured momentum swings and strong special teams play. Ile des Chenes capitalized twice on the power play, matching Winkler’s 2-for-4 performance with the man advantage.
Justin Tremblay led the Northstars with a goal and two assists, while Miguel Rondeau added a goal and two helpers. Kaan Bitchok and Braden Purtill each chipped in with a goal and an assist.
Winkler was paced by TJ Matuszewski, who scored twice and added an assist, while Aaron Lewadniuk and Justin Augert each had a goal and a helper. Lawson McDonald contributed two assists in the loss.
The Northstars pulled away late in the third period, with Rondeau scoring the game-winner before adding a pair of empty-net goals to seal the victory. Matthew Radomsky made 31 saves for the win, while Winkler netminder Matthew Thiessen turned aside 42 shots in a busy outing.
Ile des Chenes carried that momentum into Game 3 on March 20, earning a 6-4 win in Winkler to take a 2-1 series lead.
After Cody Fowlie opened the scoring for the Royals, the Northstars responded with five goals over the final two periods, including a natural hat trick from Michael Svenson in the third. Svenson finished with three goals, while Caleb Paisley and Josh Beauchemin also scored.
Winkler stayed within reach thanks to goals from Fowlie, Lewadniuk and Lawson McDonald, but Svenson’s third of the night stood as the game-winner. Radomsky made 31 saves for the victory, while Thiessen stopped 30 in defeat.
Facing a potential two-game deficit, the Royals answered in Game 4 on March 21 with a dominant 4-0 win on the road to even the series.
Justin Augert opened the scoring late in the first period before Matuszewski added another less than a minute later. Lewadniuk extended the lead in the second, and Lucas Ens sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
Thiessen was outstanding in net, turning aside all 26 shots he faced for the shutout, while Radomsky made 34 saves in the loss.
Through four games, the series has featured balanced scoring and strong goaltending at both ends, with neither team able to build sustained momentum.
With the series tied 2-2, it now shifts back to Winkler for Game 5 on March 25 at 8 p.m. Game 6 is scheduled for March 27 in Ile des Chenes, with a deciding Game 7, if necessary, set for March 29 in Winkler.
