Falcons start play-offs in style with win in Wingham
The Canadian Tire Hanover Falcons started their play-off run in style today, winning in a hard working 6-2 effort over the Wingham Ironmen. They did so despite missing two key players in Chase Blackburn and Alex Pendergast.
Hanover started off well and had some good chances early in the first period, but were unable to beat a solid Wingham netminder, until the 2:57 mark of the frame, when Matt Howie finished off a nice rush to make it 1-0, with Colin Spielmacher drawing the assist on the play.
Hanover then made it 2-0 less than 2 minutes later, when Kody Hammell got a pass in the slot and deposited it in the back of the net, with Quinton Steward and Matt Howie earning the assists.
Then in the second period, Hanover made it 3-0, when Hammell was at it again, notching his second of the game, with Brook Bross and Matt Schierz drawing the assists. Then Hanover was killing a penalty and a mad scramble in front of goalie Ben Klages resulted in Wingham getting on the board to make it 3-1.
Hanover responded by making it 4-1 about three minutes later, when Hammell finished off the hat trick with a blast that the goalie probably didn't see go in the net, with Chris Hall drawing the assist on the play.
Hanover went up 5-1, when Quintin Graydon got a beautiful pass from Matt Howie right in the slot and sent it through the five hole to give Hanover a 4 goal lead.
In the third period Wingham seemed to pick up some energy and were creating some quality scoring chances, but Ben Klages was very sharp and made several strong saves. Wingham was able to get the score to 5-2 when they kept jamming away at a loose puck and knocked it in behind Klages.
Hanover then rounded out the scoring lat in the third, when Shay Chittick fired home a shot from in close on the goalie, with Dustin Leask and Quintin Graydon receiving the assists on the play.
It was a very solid start to what could be a very successful play-off journey for the team, now winners of 4 games in a row and playing their best hockey of the season.
