The score doesn't always tell the whole story and that's certainly been the case for the Evoke Marketing Tier I Warriors the last three games. With three players unable to play due to injuries, the Warriors knew that they were going to be in tough versus the first place West London Hawks October 22 and the first place Sarnia Junior Sting October 23.
Reed Bowles got the start October 22 and was busy early as the Hawks kept the boys hemmed in our zone until London got on the board with a howitzer high glove side.
The Hawks kept the pressure on the Warriors and Bowles made several great glove and pad saves to keep the team in it 1-0.
Noah Brosens was busy the moment he took over and made two great glove stops in the first minute. Unfortunately a bad pinch and a fallen defender sent the Hawks sniper away and he deked left and then dragged it back before tucking it into the right side for a 2-0 lead. London held a 13-6 shot advantage after two periods.
Fifteen seconds into the third, Rylan DeBoeck stole the puck and dished to Owen Chambers. He wheeled through the neutral zone, deked the defenders and tucked home a beauty cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Unfortunately midway through the third, the Hawks were able to take advantage of the size difference out front and slipped one behind Brosens for a 3-1 lead and he added his third of the game with 1:51 remaining.
The Warriors had several glorious chances especially in the third but were denied by a hot goalie. The Hawks snuck one in with 27 seconds left but Cole Hishon made it 5-2 after picking up the pass from Owen Blain with 11 seconds left. He was parked to the left of the crease and he spun and rifled it into the back of the net.
The Warriors can really hold their heads high as the seven forwards Colten Brenzil, Blain, DeBoeck, Hishon, Taten Mikel, Owen Bridges, Ryan Cassone, and the defenders Chambers, Colston Kibedi, Casen de Graaf, Owen Hunt and Charlie Holloway made several great plays and both goalies have been called on to make some great stops.
October 23 the much bigger Sarnia Junior Sting were in town and they walked away with a 7-0 victory. The Warriors fought hard to keep Sarnia off the scoresheet. They broke through with just over three minutes remaining in the first and then again two minutes later while we were on the power play.
They took a 3-0 lead 45 seconds into the second and added two more before Brosens came in late in the second period.
Sarnia added two more in the third to seal the 7-0 victory.
Bowles and Brosens both made several great saves as Sarnia out shot the Warriors 18-14 after holding a 10-5 advantage after two periods.
The Warriors are in action October 28-30 at the Dorchester tournament.
Submitted by Elaine Pennington