Warriors defeat Bandits and top place Jr Sting, News, Tier III Novice (Alliance West), U8-U9 (Novice), 2015-2016 (Stratford Minor Hockey Association)

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Feb 26, 2016 | Heather Bridges | 751 views
Warriors defeat Bandits and top place Jr Sting
Timely saves, solid team defence and an offence that's starting to click helped the Tier III West Warriors, sponsored by Hockey and Training Above, earn four points on the weekend. 

On February 20, the London Bandits were in town and the Warriors earned a hard fought 3-2 victory. 
Tied 0-0 after the first period made thanks to a game saving stop by Reed Bowles during a penalty kill. He stretched flat out with seconds to go in the period. 
Taten Mikel made a smart steal and fed Colten Brenzil in the neutral zone. Brenzil raced up and shot on net and Ryan Cassone was there to snap it home. Unfortunately moments later Mikel was taken out in the neutral zone and the Bandits converted on a two on one break.
Early in the third Colston Kibedi fed Casen deGraaf and he found Nolan Miller. He deked right and dragged it back to the left then slipped it behind the goalie for a 2-1 lead.
London tied it up with 5:12 left then Cameron Parsons made a beautiful pinch at the point and dished it down to Miller. His shot was stopped but Cole Hishon was there and he flipped it high over the goalie to restore the one goal lead. The Warriors shut down the Bandits the rest of the way to win 3-2.
Bowles and Noah Brosens had numerous great saves in the victory.
On February 21, the arch rival and 1st place Sarnia Junior Sting were in town and they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead less than three minutes in. However Harrison Robinet stole the puck at the point and raced in and fired on net. Miller was there to slide it home and cut the deficit to one with 2:10 left in the first period. 
Early in the second Parsons pinched in and slipped it over to Owen Blain. He dished to Rylan DeBoeck who fired a shot that dented the twine and tied it 2-2 with seven minutes left in the second. 
Owen Chambers fired a low shot from the point that found the back of the net to make it 3-2 with 3:33 left in the second.
Early in the third, deGraaf found Miller and he cut down the left side, and fired a shot off the goalie's shoulder, helmet and in to give the Warriors a 4-2 cushion.
A bad bounce sent the Sting in on a 3 on 1 rush and they roofed it over Bowles' shoulder to cut the lead to one. The Warriors played ferocious defence and Robinet stole the puck in our zone and headed up ice with Miller on a two on one rush. He looked to Miller but decided to take the shot himself fooling the goalie. The goal sealed a 5-3 comeback victory for the Warriors and puts them in third place.
The Warriors are back in playoff action February 27 when they host the North London Nationals at the Molson Arena at 4:30 p.m. 
 
Submitted by Elaine Pennington