The Ripley Wolves "Kid Line" is considered one of the best in the WOAA Sr. Hockey League, and the Winterhawks got an up close example of why on Saturday night.
The line of Cody Britton, Drew Davidson and Brett Catto struck for four goals en route to a 5-4 win over the Winterhawks.
Before the game got underway, Winterhawks captain Greg Thede presented a brand new reclining chair to Vi Cottrill to celebrate her 80th birthday.
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Once the puck the dropped, both teams traded plenty of chances, with Josh Sturrock of the Winterhawks and Kurt Edwards of the Wolves coming up big over and over.
Late in the period, a Brett Brophy point shot snuck through Edwards and Chris King was there to knock the puck over the line as it fell out of Edwards' equipment.
The two sides traded powerplay opportunities in the 2nd period, and the Winterhawks finally broke through at 12:43 when Trent Hawke banged in his own rebound to make it 2-0 Winterhawks, with assists going to Brent MacDermid and Bryan Kazarian.
The Kid Line kicked into high gear, quickly responding at 13:17 when Britton cut the lead to 2-1.
Britton would then score his second of the night after prolonged offensive pressure by the Wolves, knotting the game at 2-2 at 18:44 of the 2nd.
With Ripley on the powerplay in the 3rd period, Hawke knocked the puck away from the Ripley defender, then deked out Edwards on the ensuing breakaway to give the Winterhawks a 3-2 lead.
Britton struck right back for the Wolves to complete the hat-trick, sniping the top corner on Sturrock to make it 3-3.
Brent MacDermid got the lead back for the Winterhawks at 11:35 of the 3rd, stealing the puck and beating Edwards on a backhander to restore the lead at 4-3.
Ripley's Ryan Armstrong would tie things up again at 15:15 of the 3rd, then Catto put away the winner just 53 seconds later, giving the Wolves their first lead of the night, and the only one they would need.
Despite having the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker for the final two minutes of the game, the Winterhawks couldn't draw even, making it a 5-4 final for Ripley.
Hawke was named Wismer House Player of the Game for his two-goal performance.
The loss drops the Winterhawks to 6-8-1 on the season, remaining in 5th place in the North Division, three points back of the Shallow Lake Crushers for 4th and the final "AA" playoff spot in the division.
As fate would have it, the next two Winterhawks games are against the Crushers, who will first visit The Plex on Tuesday December 29th for an 8:30 p.m. start, followed by a return match in Shallow Lake on January 2nd.
The entire Winterhawks organization would like to wish you and yours the best of the holiday season.
with files from winterhawks.net
