The Stratford Warriors Hiller Realty Minor Peewee Rep Team were in action Saturday night against the Burlington Bulldogs Red. In net for the team was Kiefer MacNeil.
The start of the game saw even play between both sides. Then the Warriors were put to the test on the penalty kill. Wes Duiker and Luke Heisz worked hard defensively to keep the Bulldogs at bay. Play continued fairly evenly until the Bulldogs scored top shelf midway through the period. Kaden Brame had a good shot on net on a 2 on 1.
The second period started with a score of 1-0 Burlington. Jared Gould, Sam Jeffrey and Jake Heinbuch were putting good pressure on the Bulldogs and generating a lot of scoring chances. Jeffrey made a good hustle back to help break up a 2 on 1 then got himself the puck for a shot. MacNeil made a timely save to keep the game tight. Colton Gibson broke up a Bulldogs rush. The Warriors got on their first power play of the game with Hayden White-Roy getting tripped. There was only about 30 seconds of 5 on 4 until Stratford also got a penalty and we had 4 on 4 hockey.
Fans were anxious in this nail biter, hoping Stratford could pull out a win. The score remained a close 1-0 and both goaltenders were hot tonight. A great first shift in the third for Gould, Heinbuch, Jeffrey, Heisz and Duiker peppering shots on the unbeatable Bulldogs goalie. Jeffrey had a backhand that hit the goalie’s mask yet still stayed out of the net. The team had 11 minutes left to make something happen. Burlington could sense the momentum building for Stratford and stepped up their physical play. Heinbuch stole the puck at centre and took it down for another scoring chance. The bulldogs had a breakaway but MacNeil made a monumental save that proved to be the turning point because only seconds later Jeffrey the puck to Gould who rushed down and finally beat the goalie! It was tied 1-1 with 9 minutes left and things intensified. Owen Holloway had a marvelous play with a sweet shot off the boards and roofed it with assists to Brame and Zorgdrager. Stratford was up 2-1 with 7 minutes left to hold onto their lead. Pressure was on MacNeil to shut the Bulldogs down. Burlington kept digging at him trying to rattle him but MacNeil kept his cool. Zorgdrager broke up a 2 on 1 with some quick skating. Fans were cheering loudly in the Warriors stands and hoping that the Warriors’ hard play would pay off. In the last minute Burlington pulled their goalie and forced MacNeil into a dramatic sprawling stick save at the buzzer. Warriors win 2-1!