The Winkler Royals are one win away from advancing after taking a 2-1 lead over the Notre Dame Hawks in their best-of-five South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League quarterfinal series.
Notre Dame Hawks general manager and head coach Brody Chabbert (left) presents Sean Christensen with the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League Most Sportsmanlike Player award in Notre Dame on Feb. 14
Winkler opened the series with a 3-1 victory on home ice Feb. 15 before Notre Dame responded with a 2-1 overtime win Feb. 19. The Royals regained control Saturday, Feb. 21 with a 4-3 decision in Game 3.
Prior to puck drop in Game 3, the league recognized Aaron Lewadniuk, who was presented with the SEMHL West End Tire Top Scorer Award. The honour marked the sixth time in his career he has led the league in scoring, setting a new league record.
In the opener, Winkler struck twice late in the first period and never looked back.
Adam Henry opened the scoring at 14:51 with a shorthanded marker, assisted by Justin Augert. Just over three minutes later, Augert scored what stood as the game-winner at 18:05, finishing a play set up by Lewadniuk and Braden Hildebrand.
Notre Dame cut the lead to 2-1 early in the second period on a goal by Gavin Rondeau, assisted by Dawson Lytle, but Winkler restored its two-goal cushion at 11:57 of the third when TJ Matuszewski converted a feed from Lewadniuk and Marcus Neufeld.
Matthew Thiessen turned aside 32 shots for the win, while Christopher Lesage made 32 saves in the loss. Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play.
Game 2 shifted to Notre Dame, where the Hawks evened the series with a 2-1 overtime victory Feb. 19.
Lucas Ens opened the scoring at 6:18 of the first period, converting a pass from captain Mitch Dyck. Notre Dame answered in the second when Zander Carels finished a setup from Lytle and Nikita Pecheritsyn.
After a scoreless third period, Vincent Grift scored the overtime winner at the nine-minute mark, assisted by Christian Prejet.
Lesage was sharp in the Hawks’ net, stopping 44 of 45 shots over 69 minutes. Thiessen made 34 saves in the overtime loss. Winkler went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Notre Dame was 0-for-1.
Game 3 returned to Winkler on Feb. 21, where the Royals built a three-goal cushion in a span of 1:49 in the first period. Henry opened the scoring at 11:31, assisted by Donovan Tanner and Ens. Braden Hildebrand made it 2-0 at 13:07, with Lawson McDonald and Henry drawing assists, before Henry struck again at 13:20 off a setup from Brett Bergman and Tanner.
Matuszewski added what proved to be the game-winner with a shorthanded goal at 6:29 of the second period. Notre Dame responded just 28 seconds later on a goal by Connor Hamonic, and Carels cut the deficit to one later in the frame. Christian Prejet pulled the Hawks within a goal at 16:52 of the third, but Winkler held on for the 4-3 victory.
Thiessen made 31 saves in the Game 3 win, while Lesage stopped 40 shots in defeat. Both teams were again held off the scoreboard on the power play.
Game 4 was scheduled for Feb. 23 in Notre Dame, with Game 5, if necessary, set for Feb. 26 in Winkler.
With the series now tilted in their favour, the Royals will look to close things out in Game 4, while the Hawks aim to force a decisive fifth game.
