The Walkerton Hawks finished their last regular season weekend with a win against the Hanover Barons, 5-2.
Their Saturday night game against the Wingham Ironmen was postponed due to inclement weather. That game will take place tonight at 8:30 in Walkerton.
Friday’s game saw Hanover draw first blood halfway through the first on a powerplay.
There wasn’t another goal scored until the back half of the second period, when Walkerton’s Mike Bujold buried one off of Shane MacDonald and Wendel Cameron to tie the game.
Walkerton went ahead early in the third period on an Andy Mitchell goal. MacDonald scored one of his own thirty seconds later, with assists going to Jay Thompson and Bujold.
Hanover narrowed the margin to 3-2 just over a minute later, but that wouldn’t last, as Mitchell scored his second of the game at 11:23, assisted by Eric Lekun.
The Barons pulled their goalie in the final minute of play, but Adam Alexander shot into the empty net assisted by Mitchell with 17 seconds left in the game. Walkerton netminder Jeff Flagler made 27 saves in the win, and Hanover’s Derrick Mitchell took the loss with 29 saves.
This win gives the Hawks a commanding lead in team standings, with 56 points. The Mitchell Hawks have 48 points in second place; Barons are in third with 46 points; The Wingham Ironmen have 41 points for fourth; The Kincardine Bulldogs have 39 points in fifth; The Mount Forest Patriots have 29 points; and the Goderich Sailors trail with just five points from their two wins and one overtime loss this season.
Of the five top scorers in the league, Walkerton owns four; Lekun tops the standings with 41 goals and 41 assists, while Drew Davidson, who has been out for the past four weeks with a broken ankle, still ranks third with 35 goals and 32 assists in 28 games played. In fourth is Hayden Campbell and fifth is Hawks captain Andy Mitchell.
Walkerton will face Goderich in Game 1 of the first round of playoffs, as they’ve declined the bye, which will now be offered to the second place team. Game 1 is set for Friday, Feb. 3 at 8:30 in Goderich, Game 2 is in Walkerton on Saturday at 6:30. See page 13 for the playoff schedule.