The Winchester Hawks welcomed the Casselman Vikings to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Wed., March 4, for game two of the best-of-three CCHL2 Martin Division wildcard series. The Hawks’ forward, Morgan Wark battles for the puck with the Vikings’ defenders and goalie, Nicholas Campbell. Campbell and the Vikings ousted the Hawks from the playoffs with a 4-3 victory and a two games to none series win. Moore photo

WINCHESTER—The Winchester Hawks closed out their season this past week as they welcomed Casselman Vikings on Wednesday night.

Vikings 4 Hawks 3

The Winchester Hawks welcomed the Casselman Vikings to the Joel Steele Community Centre on Wed., March 4, for game two of the best-of-three CCHL2 Martin Division wildcard series. The Vikings took the first game 4-1 as the Hawks looked to extend the series to three games with a victory. 

The Hawks opened the scoring when Marco Haw scored his second of the post season from Colby Schroeder and Kyle Fleming at 11:31 of the first period taking a 1-0 lead. The Vikings knotted the affair at one when Shawn Patterson ripped home his second of the playoffs from Alexandre Charlebois on the power play at 16:29. The teams took a one-all draw into the first intermission. 

The Vikings took their first lead of the game when Zachary Fournier scored his first goal of the post season from Charlebois and Samuel Labre at 7:18 of the second period. 

The Vikings took a two-goal lead when Nicolas Chartrand scored his first of the playoffs from Jason Cossette at 17:52 and took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. The Hawks closed the gap to one when Kyle Kuehni snapped home his first of the post-season from Noah Fraser on the power play at 7:08. 

The Vikings retook a two-goal lead when Chartrand scored his second of the game and post season from Adam Paquette at 14:21. The Hawks closed the gap to one gain when Haw scored his second of the game and third of the playoffs at 17:55 from affiliated player, Adam Barkley and Fleming. 

With just over a minute remaining in regulation, the Hawks pulled their goalie in favour of an extra attacker and had a few chances to score but the Vikings were able to hold them off the score sheet taking the game 4-3. 

The Vikings swept the series two games straight ending the Hawks’ season. The Vikings move on to face the Ottawa West Golden Knights in the Martin Division semifinal. The Vikings outshot the Hawks 44-43. 

Picking up the win in the Vikings goal was Nicholas Campbell making 40 saves and suffering the loss in the Hawks’ goal was Cole Defazio making 40 saves.