Irish season ends on home ice
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
On Feb. 21, Stratford was looking to reverse their misfortune in the first two games against the rival Strathroy Jets in game three at Strathroy.
The Jets scored first just 70 seconds into the game and added another goal at 4:41 of the opening period. Stratford responded before the end of the first frame, with Travis Winkworth scoring from Christian Polillo to close the gap to 2-1.
But the Jets retook the momentum in the second period with a goal midway through the period and added another late in the middle frame to go ahead 4-1 after 40 minutes. The Jets added one more with over two minutes left in the game to go up 3-0 in the series.
Irish netminder Zachery Weir made 21 saves in the game three loss.
With their season on the line, the Irish returned home to the Allman Arena on Feb. 22 for game four against the Jets.
Irish captain Zach Magwood scored first from Polillo and Matthew Fuller just 22 seconds into the game. However, the Jets responded with three unanswered goals in a little over three minutes.
Stratford responded with goals from Nick Giunta and Connor Hall, including one from Polillo, with 4:06 left in the opening frame, but the Jets restored their two-goal lead just over two minutes later.
The score stayed at 4-2 for the Jets until 4:04 in the final period, when they scored again, sealing the Irish’s season and making it 5-2.
The promising first season of the Stratford Irish in the Northern Premier Hockey League concluded with a loss in the playoff series against the Strathroy Jets in four games.
Round 1 Playoff Schedule – Strathroy (2) vs. Stratford (3)
Game one – Stratford 3 Strathroy 4
Game two – Strathroy 5 Stratford 4 (OT)
Game three – Stratford 1 Strathroy 5
Game four – Strathroy 5 Stratford 2
Strathroy wins series 4-0
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