The Neumeister Motors Novice Tier 2 Warriors won
the Aylmer Hockey Championship this past weekend to end their season as
champions.
Stratford finished the tournament undefeated and played some of the best hockey of the year. The Warriors began the tournament against Ilderton Jets and went on the board first with a goal by Nash McIlroy assisted by Andrew Davis late in the first period. Both teams played hard fighting for the puck and exchanged shots. Jake Taylor made some amazing saves to keep Stratford in the game. Down by a goal late in the third period, Stratford got a goal from Davis assisted by Rem Hruden and Mason Bauld ending the game in a tie 2-2. Stratford was next faced with Mooretown. Again Stratford got behind early in the game and had to work hard to get back in it. Liam Benton got Stratford on the board first with a beauty goal assisted by Finley Newton. Harrison Robinet followed suit with a goal assisted by Hruden and Davis. Stratford was down 4-2 heading into the third period but wasn’t giving up. The Warriors relied on strong skating, passing and team play which allowed Benton and Evan White-Roy to score which pushed the game to a tie once again 4-4. Newton, Nash McIlroy, and Oscar Seip picked up assists. Brock Herman made some great saves to keep Stratford in the game. Stratford’s last game of pool play saw them take on Saugeen Shores. Knowing they needed a win to keep them active in the playoffs the boys came out with determination in their skating and forechecking. Davis put the Warriors on the board 11 seconds into the game with a great faceoff by Robinet to get the puck to Davis. Thirty seconds later Davis took the puck and travelled up the ice to put it past Saugeen Shores goalie and make it 2-0. Warriors weren’t done yet as McIlroy took a pass from White-Roy and made no mistake finding the back of the net. Stratford didn’t look back. Scoring for Stratford was Davis (4), McIlroy (2) Finley Newton, and Robinet. Picking up assists were; Robinet,White-Roy, Benton, Hruden, and Davis. Stratford won 8-1.
Stratford ended pool play in second place which then had them face Mooretown in the semi final. Knowing they could compete with Mooretown, the Warriors were pumped. Once again Stratford got behind late in the first place with two goals by Mooretown. Stratford got a goal by Davis in the second period assisted by Robinet. Robinet and Mason Bauld scored in the third period to tie the game up. Despite some great chances as the third period dwindled down, this one was heading to overtime. Starting with 4 on 4, Robinet won the face-off and carried the puck up to get a shot on net. Davis picked the puck up behind the net and wrapped around to put the puck over the goalies pads for the win 14 seconds into the overtime period. Picking up assists for the game were Robinet and Davis. Great defensive plays by Bauld, Blake McIntosh, Owen VanGetel, and Henry Flanagan kept Stratford strong. Stratford was able to avenge an earlier tie with Ilderton in the finals. The warriors were not willing to fall behind this time so came out fighting. Play went back and forth for the first two periods with each team getting some shots and playing defensively. Will McKee, Ethan Priestap, Bauld, Flanagan, VanGestel and McIntosh were strong defensively and pushing the puck forward to help keep the puck out of our end as much as possible. The forward lines of: McIlroy, Newton, Oscar Seip; Robinet, Davis, Hruden; and Benton, Robinson, White-Roy worked extremely well keeping the puck moving and putting pressure on the Jets’ defence. McIlroy put Stratford on the board first in the third period after a rush by VanGestel pushing the puck forward to White-Roy who then gave Benton a beautiful pass. Davis and Robinson added goals late in the third period to give Stratford a 3-0 final score and take the tournament to end their season. Stratford’s goalies; Jake Taylor and Brock Herman played extremely well between the pipes the entire tournament. Congratulations Tier II Neumeister Motor Novice Warriors on an excellent season!