Written by Dave Graff. The SMHA Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep team began
the Alliance Bristol playdowns with three games in three days and despite a
slow start in each, they stormed back in all three to take two wins and a tie
from Woodstock and now lead the six point series five points to one.
In game one Thursday in Stratford second and third period goals by Josh Nixon set the stage for Carter Musselman to bang in the tying goal off of a Maverick Mulder rebound inside of two minutes remaining to secure the 3-3 final score in the series opener. Erik Smith had two assists for the Warriors while Braydon Tinning and Jack Whitehead added one each.
In game two Friday evening the home side Navy Vets came out flying and led 2-0 early in the first period only to see the visiting Warriors turn the tide and dominate the remainder of this game, outscoring Woodstock 6-1 the rest of the way in a 6-3 game two victory. Carter Musselman was the star offensively on this night netting the hat trick while Mulder, Smith and Ethan Aarts also found the back of the net for the winners. Caleb Musselman had two assists while Zach Carman, Tinning, Whitehead, Mulder, Calaen Trupp and Owen Duiker had one each.
Game three Saturday in Stratford followed an all too familiar script for the Warriors as they fell behind 2-0 again by late in the first period. The scored stayed that way until half way through the third period when Caleb Musselman put the home team on his back setting up a Whitehead power play goal to put the visitors on the board, scoring while shorthanded to tie the game and then burying the winning goal with four minutes remaining to give Stratford the 3-2 victory. Carman and Carter Musselman assisted on the game winning goal.
Owen Gemmell, Nathan Graff and Sydnie Miller contributed strong defensive games in the two victories while goalie Tallyn Soper was solid in all three games, stopping a combined 43 shots.
Game four is Tuesday night in Woodstock.