It was an impressive week for the Dunny's Source for
Sports Atom MD squad as they won two of three games, including their first playoff win.
On Wednesday, in their playoff home opener, the Warriors played their most complete game of the season and were able to finally topple division rival London Bandits Orange 2-1. The teams battled to a scoreless first period with Brock Barclay making several key saves to keep the Warriors in the game. The Warriors picked up their play on the second period and were able to hem the Bandits in their own end for much of the frame. But the London goaltender was equal to the task and kept the Dunny's shooters at bay. Despite the strong play by the Warriors, the Bandits were able to break the deadlock midway through the second period and carried a 1-0 lead into the third. Stratford roared out of the gate to begin the third generating several quality scoring chances in the first few shifts. They were finally able to solve the London netminder when Jackson Nickel poked the puck in on a goal mouth scramble after a nice point shot from Maddox Keller and some gritty work down low by James Koch. The Warriors were not done there as two shifts later, after a nice draw win by Nick McCabe and a quick shot on net by Jake Bossence, the puck squirted loose out front to Liam Flanagan and he made no mistake burying the game winner with four minutes remaining. Barclay shined in the final minutes of the game and the Warriors buckled down defensively turning back the onslaught by the Bandits offense and were able to hold on for the win. Matthew Trachsel and Cameron Hahn were a force all game on defense and Corey Van Nes and Nathan Cardoso put pressure on the Bandits defense with strong forechecking all night. Truly an excellent team effort that the Warriors should be proud of.
Dunny's then travelled to the Bandits barn on Saturday for the back end of the home and home series where London would avenge their earlier loss. It was another spirited effort from the Warriors as they took the play to London for much of the first period. Nick McCabe would get the tribe on the board at the six minute mark as he pounced on a rebound off a Liam Flanagan shot. The Warriors would carry that 1-0 lead until late in the second period when London was finally able to solve Warrior goalie Colin Wickenheiser. The third opened with chances at both ends of the ice, but the Bandits would take a 2-1 lead on a lucky bounce as a cross ice pass hit a skate and ended up in the Warriors net. Dunny's would respond however and tied the game 2-2 on some great cycling by the line of Bossence, Flanagan and McCabe with Bossence finding twine with six minutes remaining. London would not back down though and a shift later retook the lead for good on a nice end to end rush. Despite a relentless attack for the final few minutes, the Warriors could not capitalize on the Bandits net. London would add an empty net goal and an insurance marker to win 5-2. Wickenheiser was outstanding all game, including denying London on a penalty shot with the Warriors down 3-2 late in the game. Sam Gerber and Ethan Skinner did a great job of keeping the puck in the London end all game while Owen Akey and Ethan Boersma had several scoring chances denied by the Bandits goalie.
The Warriors kicked off the week with a 3-2 victory in an exhibition game with Cambridge. James Koch got Stratford on the board early in the second period with a top shelf snipe after a nice faceoff win by Ethan Boersma. Later in the frame, Boersma got one of his own a well timed wrister from the slot. Cambridge would tie the game early in the third, but Jake Bossence put the Warriors up for good banging in a rebound after some nice battling in front of the Hawks net. Matt Trachsel, Liam Flanagan, Nick McCabe and Jackson Nickel picked up assists in the contest. Mitchell Leitch played well on defense while Corey Van Nes was a force on the forecheck all game.