The Stratford Novice Tier I Warriors, sponsored by Evoke Marketing, opened the 2016-17 season in Sarnia, September 24 and despite a determined effort dropped a 6-3 decision to the junior Sting.
Colten Brenzil netted a pair and Owen Blain added a single to lead the offence, while Owen Chambers, Colston Kibedi and Cameron Parsons added assists.
After falling behind 3-0, a huge pad save by Noah Brosens late in the second seemed to give the boys a boost of energy. Sarnia was called for slashing with three minutes left in the period and on the resulting power play Kibedi intercepted the Sarnia pass and found Chambers who dipsy doodled through the defenders and took a shot on net but was denied. Blain was johnny on the spot and tapped it home to cut the deficit to 3-1. Two minutes later, Sarnia cut through the defence and dented the twine for a 4-1 lead. Less than a minute later, Sarnia used its size advantage to take a 5-1 lead after two periods.
Early in the third, Sarnia cut around the defence and sniped a shot high glove side to make it 6-1. Late in the period, Kibedi broke up the Sarnia attack and found Brenzil in the neutral zone. He used his speed and cut around the defence before firing a beautiful wrist shot high glove side. A minute later, Kibedi dished it up to Parsons in the neutral zone and he raced up ice before sliding it across to Brenzil. He cut to the middle and ripped his second of the game over the glove of the Sting netminder.
Brosens stood tall throughout the contest facing 20 shots. The Warriors had a sensational shooting percentage netting three goals on seven shots.
On September 25, the Warriors hosted Woodstock in an early morning exhibition contest. Just over a minute in, Charlie Holloway intercepted the puck at the Warriors blueline and found Taten Mikel who streaked down the right side and made a sweet move on the defence before snapping a shot past the Woodstock netminder. Unfortunately while the Warriors had numerous glorious chances they were unable to sneak another one past the Woodstock goalie. The forward lines of Blain, Ryan Cassone and Mark Martin; Brenzil, Owen Bridges and Parsons; and Rylan DeBoeck, Cole Hishon and Taten Mikel are starting to click and Casen deGraaf, Holloway, Chambers, Kibedi and Owen Hunt made several big stops to limit the Woodstock attack. Reed Bowles took over for Brosens late in the second and he was called upon to make several key stops as Woodstock fought to tie it up. Unfortunately a defensive zone miscue behind the net allowed the puck to squirt out front and the Woodstock forward tapped it home. One of the game highlights was a diving stop by Hishon to bat the puck out of harm's way. The teams battled hard the rest of the way but neither team was able to take advantage of their opportunities and it ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Warriors are back in action for their home opener October 1 when they host the London Bandits at 11 a.m. at the RBC Arena. They then travel to London, October 2 to face the Nationals.
Submitted by Elaine Pennington