Patrick Cole's second goal of the game on the powerplay stood up as the game winner as the Stratford Warriors edged Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins 4-3 on Wednesday before 1,208 in attendance at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.
The Warriors took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Greater Ontario Hockey League Midwestern Conference playoff final.
The Siskins opened the scoring through Carson Maybury in the first period. Jonas Schmidt, with a man advantage, Hunter Nagge and Cole, shorthanded, all beat Siskins goaltender Nolan Chartrand to give the visitors a 3-1 lead. Ryan Lunn got one back for the Siskins before Cole's second of the game at the 7:30 mark of the third period.
Blake Wideman made it an interesting finish with a shorthanded goal for K-W with 5:24 left in the game.
Owen Willmore had 34 saves for the Warriors.
Game 6 is Friday night in Stratford at the William Allman Memorial Arena. Game 7, if needed, is Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Waterloo.
