Written by Dave Graff. The SMHA
Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep team quickly turned a
three game winless streak into a three game unbeaten run with a win and a tie
over the weekend in Alliance minor hockey action.
Sunday in Sarnia saw a bit of a slow start for both teams, the first period ending with the game still scoreless. After an early Sting breakaway goal in the second period put the Warriors down one, the visitors launched a bevy of shots at the Sarnia goal with Zach Carman eventually tying the game from in close. Caleb Musselman and Nathan Graff drew the assists. Just seconds later however the home side regained the momentum by working the puck out from the Stratford corner and burying the go ahead goal from the slot. The Warriors dug down and found another gear in the third period and were rewarded with two power play goals to pull out the 3-2 victory. On the tying goal Jack Whitehead worked the puck over to Maverick Mulder at the Sarnia blue line. Mulder’s hard low shot was deftly deflected in front by Carter Musselman and snuck past the Sting goaltender. Then with just under two minutes to play Caleb Musselman pounced on a Carter Musselman rebound and buried the game winner with Whitehead also assisting.
Saturday in Woodstock the Warriors were on the wrong end of some unfortunate bounces in their own end with just under two minutes remaining allowing the Navy Vets to score from in close and close this one out in a 1-1 tie. Josh Nixon scored the Warrior goal part way through the second period, converting a nifty saucer pass from Braydon Tinning on a two on one break. Erik Smith and Calaen Trupp did the dirty work in the Stratford end to send Tinning and Nixon up ice. Goaltender Tally Soper provided solid goaltending for the Warriors throughout the weekend, stopping 38 of 41 shots over the two games.
With the weekend success the Warriors appear to have locked up a top four finish in the Bristol A standings and with that an extra home game in round one when the playoffs begin next week.