Jan 31, 2016 | lgraham | 983 views
2016 North York Knights Challenge Champions
The Stratford Canadian Tire Major Bantam "A" Warriors went a perfect 5-0 and captured gold in the 2016 North York Knights Challenge at York University in the GTA this past weekend.
Stratford started off round robin play with an 8-1 drubbing of the Toronto Eagles Friday afternoon. Brett Maguire had a big day offensively with three goals and an assist, while Brendan Moorehead, Caelen Eveleigh, Ethan Scrimgeour, Blake Strickland and Hayden Arms all had singles. Assists went to Joel DenOtter, Kolton Debus, Everett Hawkins, Josh Smith, Dylan Hall and Moorehead.
Saturday, the Warriors faced the North Bay Trappers, and picked up their second win of round robin play, 3-1. DenOtter had a goal and assist, while Maguire and Hall picked up the other two goals for Stratford. Other assists went to Smith and Scrimgeour.
Stratford played their second game of the day against Forest City, and Maguires power play goal, set up by Scrimgeour with 5:45 remaining was the only scoring in a 1-0 win. It was Maguires fifth goal of the tournament as they finished round robin play with a perfect 3-0 record. Bobby McLachlan picked up the shutout.
In Sunday semi final action, Stratford faced the Toronto Wolverines and thanks to Maguires sixth goal of the tournament, won 1-0 and advanced to the Sunday afternoon final. Strickland and Jared Searles picked up assists, and Jarod Fleming notched the shutout.
The host North York Knights were the Warriors opponent in the championship game, and Stratford finished the tournament with a 4-3 win to capture gold. Trent Zorgdrager and Carter Lewis each had a goal and assist with Hall and Searles rounding out the scoring. Three of the four Stratford goals were power play tallies. Maguire picked up two assists, and Debus one for Stratford.