The Cherrey Bus Lines Minor Bantam Warriors opened their quarter final playoff series against the Oakridge Aeros with two wins on the weekend.
The Warriors started things off with a 9-2 victory on Saturday. Nathan Hall had 3 goals and 1 assist, Clayton Lewis had 1 goal and two assists and Dillon Weinheimer and Bradley Kraemer each added 1 goal and 1 assist to pace the attack. Joe Yundt had 2 goals and Justin Beuermann added a single. Jarrett Baker and Ewen Flanagan each had two assists with singles going to Dalton Smith, Michael Cossey, Jacob McPherson and Tyreese Harrison. Baily Paquette had a strong game in goal.
The Warriors returned to a cramped and cold Oakridge arena on Sunday where they have had little success against the Aeros this season - tying both games played. True to form, Oakridge played a much better game on home ice as they forced Stratford to come back from a 5-3 deficit before winning it 6-5 in dramatic fashion with 37 seconds left in overtime. Weinheimer led the Warriors with 2 goals and 2 assists while Yundt fired 2 goals including the big OT winner assisted by Weinheimer. Lewis had 1 goal and 1 assist while Kraemer added a single goal. Flanagan, Smith and Hunter James each had 2 assists with singles going to Harrison and Hall. Paquette came on in relief and provided excellent goaltending setting the stage for the OT victory.
The series continues Tuesday night in Stratford with the Warriors hoping to put away the Aeros on home ice.