The Stratford Canadian Tire Major Bantam Warriors were back in playdown action this past weekend, as they kicked off their six point Bristol Alliance semi-final series against the London Jr. Mustangs Purple. Stratford picked up right where they left off in their quarter final sweep of Sarnia, gaining two wins and taking a 4 points to none stranglehold in the series.
Saturday, at the RBC Arena in Stratford, a solid team effort that may have been one of the Warriors best efforts of the season, resulted in a 4-2 win for the home squad. There were many outstanding contributions that did not appear on the scoresheet from a Warrior squad down three regulars due to injury. Scoring for Stratford was Jared LeSouder, Noah Rusen Steele, Callan Ferguson and Kayden Schooley, while Minor Banta call up Caleb Musselman, Riley Mathieson, Connor Hill, LeSouder and Schooley all had assists.
Stratford travelled to the Forest City for a Sunday afternoon affair, and came out with a similar complete team effort, this time downing the Mustangs 3-1. Stratford opened the scoring with 32 seconds left in the opening frame when LeSouder, with his second of the weekend, wrapped in a rebound behind a sprawled out London goaltender. Josiah Kraayenbrink and Kayden Schooley assisted. Things stayed that way in the physical affair, until early in the third when London went on the power play, looking for the equalizer. But Noah Rusen Steele, spectacular all weekend, scored shorthanded for the biggest goal of the series to date. Minor Bantam call up Ben ten Hag sealed the win for Stratford with six minutes remaining and London scored with 29 seconds remaining to break Carson Knott’s shutout bid.
The Warriors can earn their ticket to the final with a win in game three, Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. at the Allman Arena