The Mount Forest Patriots didn't let a long first round bye affect their game.
The 2-time defending PJHL Pollock Division champions hadn't played a game since February 2, the last day of the regular season in which they clinched a bye for the first round. Weather played a factor in the layoff too, forcing the cancellation of multiple games through the quarter-finals.
In the opening game of a Best of 7 semi-final, Walkerton was able to keep it close. The Patriots' Riley Cribbin opened the scoring at the five minute mark of the first period. The next goal in the game didn't come until 17:51 of the second when Walkerton rookie Thomas Brown tied the game.
But then the Patriots took over.
Cribbin scored his second goal with just 52 seconds left in the second period. He then completed the hat trick when he scored 22 seconds into the third period.
Parker Miller and Klayton Hoelscher also scored in the third. Hoelscher's was a short handed goal.
Overall, Mount Forest peppered the Walkerton net with 46 shots. Hawks' goalie Mathew Donnelly stopped 41 of them.
In the other end, David Lobsinger made 29 saves.
Game 2 is Friday in Walkerton at 8:20 p.m.
In the other semi-final, Wingham is in Kincardine at 7:55 p.m. Thursday for Game 2 with the Ironmen up 1-0 in the series.
