It will be a night to remember for Wingham rookie Mitch Deelstra. The Ironmen youngster scored three in a 7-3 home victory over the Mount Forest Patriots.
Things started as a back and forth affair with both teams trading early shots and hits early on. Patriots starting net minder John Nixon made some big saves before Wingham was able to find an answer.
Ironmen 2014/15 leading scorer Ryan McNeil picked up where he left off last season with the opening goal of the night, but the celebration was short lived. Blair Butchart found a loose puck after a mad scramble in front of Ben Nelson and buried it into the open side.
A 1-1 score would not last long after the fast paced game was slowed down by penalties. On a 4-on-3 advantage Wingham's Mitch Deelstra scored his first of the night and followed it up shorthanded less than a minute later.
Up 3-1 heading into the second period the ice continued to tilt in the favour of the hosts. Deelstra completed the hat-trick at the midway point on an unassisted marker. Ryan McNeil scored a few minutes later for the Ironmen's second multi-goal scorer of the game.
Each team would add two goals a piece in the third. Matt McCracken and Bailey Poels had the goals for Wingham and Doug Ardis and Michael Stefanelli scored for Mount Forest.
The win marks a first for a new coaching staff for Wingham with head coach Chris Stewart and assistants Corey Hayter and Chad Haggitt marking their return behind the bench in Western Junior C.
Ben Nelson stopped 19 shots for the win while Patriots goalies John Nixon and Kevin Hutchinson split the loss.
Mount Forest will look for their first win when they host a home opener against Hanover. Wingham has the rest of the weekend off before hosting Goderich next Friday.