The Stratford Midget Warriors attended the 20th Annual Toronto Ice Dogs Fall Classic and earned themselves a small measure of success by making it through to the semi-final round of play.
Stratford opened the tournament against Port Credit Storm. Falling behind 3-0 after the 1st, Stratford found themselves able to muster little offense and eventually fell 6-1.
Saturday brought an entirely different fate as a clearly more engaged team took to the ice to defeat the Brampton Rockets 6-2 and then the Gloucester-Orleans Blues 5-2 - guaranteeing a birth in the semi finals.
Against the Rockets, Greg Williams chipped in an even strength, a power-play, and a shorthanded goal, as well as an assist and finished +2. Jake Near had a goal and an assist and finished with a +3 against the Blues. Jackson Blowes scored both of the game winners on Saturday, each on the power-play.
On Sunday morning, the Warriors faced the Vaughan Rangers in the semi-finals. With nerves obviously showing early the Warriors battled back from an 2-0 hole to lead the Rangers 3-2 late in the 2nd period. Before the period was out the Warriors were assessed 8 minutes in minor penalties and a 10 minute misconduct, and despite some great penalty killing they left the 2nd with a 5-3 deficit. In the 3rd Stratford continued the march to the box, being assessed an additional 6 minutes in minors, a misconduct and a match penalty - the final score was 7-3.