Irish climbs closer to second
Detroit Fighting Irish has moved to within three points of second place in the Midwest Jr. Hockey League with four games in hand on the second-ranked Motor City Monarchs.
Playing at home on Wednesday, the third-place Fighting Irish rallied to tie the game late in the third period and went on to defeat the fourth-seeded Decatur Blaze 5-4 in a shootout.
Fighting Irish forward Ken Winter completed a hat trick with the tying goal in the final minute of the third period to force extra time. Winter now has 32 goals in 33 games this season.
Steven Sewell scored the other Detroit goal and George Hill — making his third straight victorious start since returning from a three-day audition with the Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League — made 35 saves for his sixth win of the season.
HERNANDEZ TRAVELS WITH EAGLES
Fighting Irish forward Jacob Hernandez is accompanying the NAHL’s Soo Eagles on a two-game weekend road trip to Keystone to play the Ice Miners.
The 6-foot-3, 215 pound Hernandez is in his second week of an extended audition with the Eagles.
In 26 MWJHL games with Detroit this season, the 1995-born Hernandez has 20 goals and 128 minutes in penalties.
PHOTO: Detroit Fighting Irish takes a timeout from MWJHL action.