The Tier III West Warriors now have their sights set on Sarnia in the playdown round.The Warriors, sponsored by Hockey Training Above, controlled their own destiny heading into the weekend needing two points to hold on to second overall, however they were going to have to do it shorthanded.
On March 12, they travelled to London to take on a West London Hawks 3 squad buoyed by the return of their star forward. The Warriors were playing two forwards short due to the March Break so Taten Mikel was moved up to wing.
Nolan Miller scored twice and Cameron Parsons was credited with an assist on Miller's second of the game after a brilliant interception in the defensive zone. It wasn't enough though as the Hawks took advantage of its opportunities to win 5-2.
On March 13, the Warriors hosted the Oakridge Aeros at the Allman Arena. With the Warriors controlling play early on Rylan DeBoeck found Cole Hishon in the slot and he snapped a shot on net. The puck squeaked through and rolled towards the line behind the netminder but then the defender tapped it in attempting to clear it away.
Moments later Colston Kibedi was hauled down on a rush and a penalty was signaled. Brenzil fired on net and his shot went through the netminder's legs and DeBoeck was there to tap it home. The goal was put on the scoreboard but in a bizarre ruling the referee explained to the coaches that because the puck hit the goalie and squirted through the play was dead and the penalty was called instead. It was baffling and definitely a bit bizarre however.
The Warriors kept pressing but the Aeros netminder stood tall making several quality glove and pad saves. Unfortunately the Aeros got on the board despite several fantastic saves by Noah Brosens.
Miller put the Warriors up 2-1 with 4:23 to go in the second but the Aeros tied it with a shorthanded marker with 8:23 left in the third. They took the lead two minutes later knowing that a win would put them into a fourth place tie with the Bandits and knock the Warriors out of second.
The Warriors pressed for the tying goal and with 21 seconds left Kibedi found DeBoeck cutting across the high slot and he snapped a backhander past the goalie to knot it up 3-3.
The Warriors needed a win to lock up second overall as Sarnia beat the West London Hawks 3 squad to finish in a second place tie. Sarnia had a better goals for and against versus the Warriors so now the teams face off in Sarnia in a first to four points series. The series opens in Sarnia March 19 at noon; at the Allman on March 20 at 3 p.m.; before returning to Sarnia March 21 at 6:30 p.m.; if necessary. The deciding game is at the Molson Arena at 6:30 p.m. March 22, if necessary.
Submitted by Elaine Pennington