A late goal by Noah Rusen Steele lifted the Stratford
Canadian Tire Major Bantam Warriors to a 4-3 win over the London Jr. Mustangs,
and put them within two points of the Alliance Bristol championship, Tuesday
night at the Molson Arena.
Rusen Steele, who has been a clutch performer throughout the playoffs, stood in the slot and redirected a Kayden Schooley point shot with 5:13 remaining, to give the home town Warriors their ninth win in ten tries in this 2016/2017 playoff run. Adam Windsor, who scored the game’s first goal and has rediscovered his scoring touch at just the right time, also assisted on the winning goal. Rusen Steele assisted on Windsor’s opening tally.
Josiah Kraayenbrink and Callum McMann both had power play markers to round out the scoring for Stratford, who at one point led 3-1 but could not hold the lead, much similar to their 7-4 game three loss. Kraayenbrink made no mistake burying a rebound for Stratford’s second goal, with Schooley and Connor Hill assisting. McMann, with the Warriors third goal, snuck in the back door from the point, took at perfect cross ice feed through traffic from Jared LeSouder, and made not mistake in beating the London net minder top shelf.
Game five in the eight point finals goes Friday night at the Kinsmen Arena in London. Game time is 8:00 p.m. Game six, if necessary, is back in Stratford at the Molson Arena, game time is 6:45 p.m.