Warriors Play Great Playoff Series, News, Bantam MD, U14-U15 (Bantam), 2012-2013 (Stratford Minor Hockey Association)

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Mar 26, 2013 | wruttan | 1569 views
Warriors Play Great Playoff Series
In the semi-final series, the Warriors met top ranked North London Nationals. They gave the Nationals all they could handle, in a series that went the distance. In the opening game of the series, the Warriors won a tough road game 4-3. The Warriors then fell short at home, losing a close game, sending the series back to London. The third game, was one of the best games the Warriors played all year, despite losing 5-4.

Game one of the series saw the Warriors travel to London, to face a very strong Nationals team. Nick Ruttan opened the scoring, on a goal assisted by Evan Roulston and Devin Kerr. Wes Keutsch then fired a hat-trick, with Roulston, Kerr, Andrew Diehl, Matt Carman and James Drake picking up the assists. The Nationals pushed the Warriors in the third, but the Warriors held them off, to win the first game 4-3, and take the series lead heading back home. 

In game two, the Warriors hosted the Nationals, in a very physical game. Matt Carman and Wes Keutsch scored the goals for the Warriors, with Wes Keutsch also adding an assist. The score was 2-2 until the Nationals scored a heartbreaking goal with 1 minute left in the third period. They went on to score an empty-netter, and defeated the Warriors 4-2.The Warriors needed to match the physical play of the Nationals, and with the help of many big hits by MacCauley Ross, did so.

In the deciding game, the Warriors travelled to London, and played one of their best games of the year. The Nationals took a 3-1 lead into the second period, with James Drake scoring the lone goal for the Warriors, with Sam Knechtel and Evan Roulston picking up the assists. Sam Knechtel started the comeback, with Drake and Matt Carman picking up the helpers. Nick Ruttan then tied the game up, with a nice goal, assisted by Teddy Gough and Eric Brubacher. Wes Keutsch scored the third period goal for the Warriors, with Adam Skinner picking up an assist. The Warriors played a great game, but fell short, losing 5-4. The Warriors never gave up, even when they were trailing. It was a well played series, that saw the Warriors get great goaltending from both Xavier Rutherford and Kayden Buck. The Warriors gave the Nationals all they could handle, and had the top seed on their heels throughout the series.