The Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep Warriors celebrated the U.S. long weekend by travelling stateside to capture the championship in the Niagara Junior Purple Eagles Thanksgiving Tournament.
In the final game the Warriors avenged two earlier losses against the undefeated host Eagles, with one of their best efforts of the season, in a convincing 4-1 victory. Stratford opened the scoring on a nice break-out pass from Minkyu Yang to Scott Chisholm who skated down the right side and found the mark only 1:14 into the game. Less than two minutes later Dalton Smith converted on a scramble in front for a quick 2-0 lead. Assisting were Justin Beuermann and Clayton Lewis. Combined with the fast start Stratford used solid goaltending, smart defensive zone coverage and a strong fore-check to keep Niagara off of their game. Lewis scored in the third from Nathan Hall and Smith, and a late empty netter by Smith sealed the win.
The Warriors started the weekend with an exhibition 6-5 shoot-out loss to the Eagles. Brody Hunt (2), Lewis, Smith and Beuermann were the goal scorers. Jarrett Baker (2), Bradley Kraemer, Michael Cossey, Ewen Flanagan and Lewis assisted. Stratford opened pool play with a 4-0 win over Cleveland. Lewis (2), Chisholm and Cossey scored with assists to Hunt (2), Hall, Cossey, Chisholm and Smith. Game 2 provided the boys with a unique experience as they defeated Hamburg 6-0 on the Time Warner Cable outdoor rink in East Aurora. Brody Hunt netted a hat trick and assisted once. Single markers went to Chisholm, Hall and Smith. Hall (2) and Isaiah Duiker had assists. The final game of the round robin saw Stratford fall 2-0 to the Eagles in a fast-paced exciting game.
In the semi-finals Stratford crossed over against first place Pittsburgh from pool B. The Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and worked their way to a 4-2 win. Lewis, Hunt and Smith each recorded a goal and assist, while Chisholm also scored and Duiker assisted. Tyreese Harrison was a force defensively all weekend and the goaltending duo of Ryan Lay and Justin Hergott were sensational each earning a shut-out along the way. The coaching staff was extremely proud of the way the team represented themselves on and off the ice.