A commitment to team defence was the difference as the Stratford Warriors Novice Tier III West squad, sponsored by Hockey Training Above, rebounded from a disappointing game versus Sarnia, February 6 with an outstanding team win over the West London Hawks 3
On February 6, the Warriors made the two hour bus ride to Sarnia and seemed to feel the effects for much of the game. By the time the first was over Sarnia was ahead 4-0 on 11 shots. Reed Bowles played well making several big saves.
Stratford finally registered its first shot on net with 2:52 left in the second period but then Sarnia added two quick goals to take a 6-0 lead after two periods.
Midway through the third Mark Martin raced in on net and fired just wide and it bounced off the back boards and caroomed out front on the opposite side of the net. Rylan DeBoeck picked it up and banked it off the goalie and in to get the Warriors on the board and round out the scoring 6-1.
On February 7, the Warriors were eager to redeem themselves as they hosted the second place West London Hawks 3 squad at the Allman Arena.
Noah Brosens got the call in net for the Warriors and he set the tone with a big save early on.
Casen deGraaf opened the scoring with just under four minutes to go in the first period. He picked up a pass from Harrison Robinet and Nolan Miller and fired a low shot that found the five hole on the Hawks netminder and trickled over the line. Miller raced in and jammed at it to make sure it was completely across but deGraaf was credited with the goal.
Less than a minute later the Hawks tied it and the period ended 1-1 with the Warriors holding a 3-2 lead in shots.
The teams battled hard and with 3:58 remaining in the second, Miller picked up the puck at our blueline turned on his after burners, split the defence and roofed a beautiful shot high glove side to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. Martin was credited with an assist.
Brosens stood tall making timely saves before turning it over to Bowles after Miller scored to make it 2-1. Then 14 seconds later Miller won the faceoff, Mikel came up with the puck and found deGraaf. He dished to Miller and he deked left split the defence and found the short side for a 3-1 lead. After two periods the Warriors held a 6-4 shot advantage as the stellar team defence stymied the Hawks. The backchecking was relentless and when they did break through the defencemen were there and blocked several shots.
Early in the third period, Robinet's hustle drew a tripping penalty. The Warriors controlled the puck deep in the offensive zone for more than a minute. Owen Hunt kept it in at the point and fired the puck down low to Colten Brenzil. He found Cole Hishon in the corner just above the goal line. From a nearly impossible angle, he fired short side over the glove giving the home side a 4-1 lead with 12:23 remaining.
The goaltenders then stole the show as
Bowles made a brilliant glove save and moments later the Hawks netminder robbed Miller of a sure goal. Bowles made a beautiful sliding pad save before Brenzil was robbed.
The Hawks found a way to make it 4-2 midway through the third but Bowles and the Warriors shut the door.
Robinet was handed a penalty for tripping and shortly thereafter Colston Kibedi was given a penalty for body checking leaving the Warriors to kill off a five on three with 4:43 to go.
Ryan Cassone, Miller and Hunt were ferocious killing off the first penalty and then Parsons joined them to kill the rest. Bowles was huge in net especially on a big poke check with 1:30 remaining. As the Hawks continued to press for the equalizers, the Warriors rose to the occasion. The Hawks finished with 17 shots while the Warriors had 12.
The defence of Owen Bridges, Cameron Parsons, Taten Mikel, Colston Kibedi and Hunt as well as deGraaf, Miller, Robinet, Ryan Cassone, Owen Blain, Rylan DeBoeck, Martin, Hishon and Brenzil blocked shots, back checked hard and refused to give the Hawks a chance to unleash its potent offence and it resulted in a hard fought 4-2 victory.
The Warriors are back in action February 13 when they host the top ranked West London Hawks 4 team. The squad will celebrate Valentine's Day with an afternoon tilt with the Oakridge Aeros in London.
Submitted by Elaine Pennington