The Jeffrey Custom Masonry Minor Bantam MD Warriors continued
their playoff run this past week with mixed results. After opening the playoff
with consecutive victories, the Warriors went 1-2 this week and now sit tied for
second place in the round robin portion of the playoff schedule
Looking to run their winning streak to 3 games on Wednesday, the Warriors came up against a hungry Kitchener team who was looking for their first playoff win. After a scoreless first period in which both goaltenders traded highlight reel saves, Stratford would open the scoring at the 5 minute mark of the second. Rocco Sigl connected on a nice tic-tac-toe goal orchestrated by linemates Owen Duiker and Colten Cowan. Kitchener would respond on the powerplay moments later to pull even, then would take the lead on another powerplay marker with 50 seconds remaining in the period. The Warriors would press the action for much of the third period, but were stymied by the Ranger defence. Dailey Trainor would make several keys saves in the third to keep Stratford within one, but it was not to be as with 3 minutes remaining, Kitchener would once again strike with the man advantage to increase their lead to 3-1. With their net empty, the Warriors were not able to solve the Kitchener goalie and the game ended in a 3-1 final. Jacob Bossence and Josh Rogers skated hard all game. And it was just another day at the office for James Koch who foiled many a 2 on 1 on the night.
Heading out on the road Saturday, the Warriors travelled to Burlington for a rematch from the previous weekend. In a highly-spirited affair, Stratford would lean on their special teams and emerge the victor in a 2-1 contest. Burlington would open the scoring on a controversial goal with 1 second remaining in the first period. In the second, starting goalie Brock Barclay would turn aside a myriad of Bulldog scoring chances before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury midway through the frame. The Burlington lead would hold up until the 8-minute mark of the 3rd period when, on a Warrior powerplay, Owen Duiker scored to tie the game. Colten Cowan and Spencer Eidt would draw assists on the goal. Tied at 1-1, the game would take an ugly turn with both teams racking up multiple penalties that would put their special teams to the test. With under 2 minutes remaining and down a man, things did not look promising for the Warriors, however a strong forecheck on the penalty kill by Colten Cowan forced a turnover at the Burlington blueline and he would walk in all alone and bury an unassisted goal to put the Warriors ahead with a minute and a half remaining. Still shorthanded, the Warriors would need a gargantuan effort to preserve the victory, but they would dig themselves into a further hole when they were penalized once again with under 30 seconds remaining. With the Burlington net empty and the Warriors down 6 on 3, a flurry of chances were turned aside by goalie Dailey Trainor who came on in relief of Barclay. The buzzer would sound with a chaotic scramble in the Stratford crease in which tempers boiled over. And while it looked like a donnybrook may ensue, cooler heads prevailed and both teams exited the ice. Alex Franke stood his ground on defence while Ethan Boersma dominated the faceoff circle once again and Brody Jeffrey created space with some nice work along boards.
The Warriors would return home on Sunday to face unbeaten St. Catharines in a battle for first place. Drained from their emotional win on Saturday, the Warriors did not get off to a good start and found themselves down 3-0 in the opening 2 minutes of the game. Stratford would get one back at the 5 minute mark of the first when Maddox Keller blasted a shot from the point and Owen Duiker jumped on the rebound, then made a nifty move to beat the Hurricanes goalie.
St. Catharines quickly responded to restore their 3 goal lead, but the Warriors would battle back again late in the first when Duiker grabbed a rebound on a Jackson Nickel point shot and fed Colten Cowan who scored to put the Warriors back in the game down 4-2. But that was all the offence the Warriors would muster in this one. St. Catharines would add single insurance goals in both the second and third periods to cruise to an easy 6-2 victory over the weary, battle-worn Warriors. Carter Stock played his usual brand of physical hockey while Zach Freeland and Keegan Reihl moved the puck well all game.