It took longer than expected but the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks are moving on to the WOAA Senior Mens “AA” Championships.
The Winterhawks came back in Game 7 last night to beat the visiting Shelburne Muskies 3-2 in overtime.
Over 12 hundred at the Plex in Port Elgin saw Ryan Dudgeon score the game winner and series clinching goal on a power play 19 minutes into the first extra period.
Game 7 began as a continuation of Game 6 with the Muskies dominating the Winterhawks in the first half of the game.
Brad Horan put the Muskies up 2-0 with a pair of power play goals — 1 in the first period and another in the second.
Then late in the second period, Bill Monkman scored on the power play to make it 2-1 for Shelburne after 2 and that seemed to turn the momentum in Saugeen Shores favour.
Curtis Johnston scored an even-strength goal with 6 minutes left in the third period to tie the game up at 2 and send it to overtime.
The Muskies were hit with a too many men on the ice penalty with a minute left in the third period and Bill Boyes was called for hooking with 1:30 left in the first overtime.
While the shots on goal were virtually even in regulation, the Muskies outshot the Winterhawks 17-6 in overtime and 42-33 in the game.
The Winterhawks will now take on the defending champions Tavistock Royals in the “AA” Championship Finals.
The Royals advanced after beating the Petrolia Squires 9-1 last night to take that series in 7 games.