The senior hockey squads split the first two games of the best-of-five series. Game three was to be played on Wednesday after the Empire-Advance’s deadline. The fourth contest is Saturday in Virden. If necessary, a fifth game would be played in Killarney on Sunday.
Game One C-Hawks 4, Shamrocks 0
On March 23, the C-Hawks flew to a 4-0 victory in Killarney. Cory Gardham stopped all 25 shots he faced to record the shutout.
“I thought our 4-0 win was one of the most complete games of the season - defended well and created good chances,” Miniota-Elkhorn coach Garth Mitchell said.
Brad Bowles led the C-Hawks with three points, including a goal. Also lighting the lamp for Miniota-Elkhorn were Tanner Kyle, Shawn Bowles, and Taylor Sanheim. The C-Hawks took 43 shots. Killarney netminder Brian Archibald stopped 39 of them.
Game Two Shamrocks 6, C-Hawks 5 OT
Bryce Enns’ goal in overtime lifted the Shamrocks to a 6-5 win in Hamiota. It was his third goal of the night.
The C-Hawks had jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Jason Bowles goal. In the second period, the Shamrocks scored three times between 11:00 and 12:00 – twice with the man advantage. With Killarney taking a 3-1 advantage, the C-Hawks found themselves battling back.
“Sunday’s game was a tight game and unfortunately we didn’t do a good job of capitalizing on our chances and gave up three goals in a minute in the second period that came back to haunt us,” Mitchell said.
After the Shamrocks’ outburst, the C-Hawks got one back thanks to Kyle to make the score, 3-2, before the second intermission.
In the third, Killarney extended its lead to 4-2 on a powerplay. Markers by Sanheim and Brad Cole knotted the contest at 4-4. Former Virden Oil Capitals junior player Morgan Magwood put his team ahead, 5-4. Cole’s second of the night tied things up at 5-5 and forced overtime.
Cory Gardham made 20 saves. Archibald stopped 54 shots.
