Winterton, Team Win Twice

Seattle's third-round draft choice last summer, forward Ryan Winterton, and his Hamilton Bulldogs teammates are one win away from qualifying for the coveted elite juniors Memorial Cup tournament. Hamilton beat Windsor twice over the weekend, going up three games to two, turning around the best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League championship final.
Hamilton will be in Windsor Monday night with eyes on closing out the series in Game 6. If a seventh and deciding game is necessary, it will be back home for Hamilton.

Winterton played a pivotal role in both weekend wins. On Friday night at Windsor, the Bulldogs were losing 2-1 with just over two minutes left in the third period-and entirely likely the Hamilton season. But the Kraken prospect won not one but two puck battles in the offensive zone to ultimately pass to teammate and defenseman Nathan Staios, who scored the dramatic tying goal and allow Hamilton to even the series with an overtime goal on the road.
With Hamilton applying consistent pressure in the closing minutes, Winterton gathered in a loose puck near the right point in the offensive zone while facing away from the Windsor net. He quickly turned around and sent the puck along the boards to linemate Mason McTavish behind the net.

After an unsuccessful Bulldogs scoring attempt, Winterton was down low in the zone himself and in position yet again to win a loose puck, this time sending it to the left point and an awaiting Staios. The recently-named OHL Defenseman of the Year passed to teammate Logan Morrison at the right point. Morrison sent it right back to Staios, whose shot through net-front traffic deflected off at least one Windsor player to redirect into the net.
At home Sunday, Hamilton faced a 1-0 deficit after a Windsor goal. On a later first-period power play, Winterton was positioned just outside the Windsor crease, getting knocked in the back by an opposing defender but keeping his feet moving to get his stick on a rebound for a shot and goal.
He was knocked down to the ice while finishing the score in an impressive display of hockey IQ, willingness to work the "dirty areas" and use his strength to stay on the puck despite all efforts to send him off balance. Winterton, who missed five months of the season to rehab a shoulder, has clearly gained strength with a conditioning program that included workouts with Kraken sports science and performance consultant Gary Roberts.
It was Winterton's seventh playoff goal and the Friday assist was his 11th. He has 18 points in 17 postseason games. A win Monday or Wednesday will afford Winterton yet more playing time after missing the first half of the regular season.
The Memorial Cup tourney features champions of the OHL, Western Hockey League (the Seattle Thunderbirds are down 3-2 in games with Game 6 Monday in their effort to reach the Memorial Cup) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. This year's host team and fourth participant is Saint John, NB. The action in Saint John begins next Monday, June 20, and runs through June 29.