The Perth Auto Dismantlers Major Atom Rep Warriors have a battle on their hands in the semi final of the AA division.
The third game of the series was played Thursday night on home ice. It was a race from the drop of the puck with end to end action and both goalies being tested again and again. Brenden Sippel protected his cage and come up with clutch saves throughout the game. Stratford struck first with a rocket from Blair Stokes, assisted by Ryan Gansevles and Nathan Siebert. London capitalized on a 5 on 3 advantage to tie the game early in the second but Siebert answered back quickly netting a rebound, assisted by Gansevles giving Stratford a one goal lead. Despite a strong effort from the Knights the Warriors were able to hold off their attack, including a massive toe save from Sippel in the dying moments of the game.
Saturday afternoon in London the boys had their work cut out for them against a team that had nothing to lose. Stratford struck first with a feed from Petrie to Stokes for the 1-0 lead in the first period. They added a second goal when Colin Schultz tipped a shot from Aaron Green, assisted by Petrie. Not a team to give up, London fought back to tie the game 2-2. A battle in front of McGill’s net late in the third gave the Knights a 3-2 lead, and an empty netter resulted in a 4-2 loss.
Sunday night the Warriors were looking for redemption but it was not to be. Brenden Sippel was on call in net and Stratford was hunting that first goal. Unfortunately, the Knights nabbed the first goal and it was a game of catch-up the rest of the night. Petrie tied the game late in the first, assisted by Dawson White. But London answered back to open the second. After a goal tending change for Stratford, Petrie tied the game again, assisted by Lukas Steele. Clutch saves from McGill and strong work along the boards from Rylan Hall and Blake Hodgson kept Stratford fighting, but again London took the lead in the opening moments of the third 3-2. Steele rifled one in, assisted by Siebert to tie the game for a third time but again London responded with a goal of their own making it 4-3. With moments left in the third C.Schultz tied the game, assisted by Grady Murphy to force a sudden death 5 min overtime. Both teams had multiple chances but in overtime but with less than a minute left London slid one in to stay alive and force Game 6 Thursday March 1 @ 6:45 in London (Western Fair).