The Rheo Thompson Candies Warriors opened the regular season with a home and home series with the North London Nationals October 7 and 8.
On October 7 the Warriors hosted the Nationals. Malaika Kibedi got the start and stood tall early unfortunately the Nationals got on the board with just over three minutes to go in the first and added a second on a two on oh. She made the first two stops but they were able to bang it home.
Early in the second, Caleb Hurley banked a pass off the boards to Jason Adair and he raced in and roofed it cutting the deficit to one. After a fantastic job killing off a penalty, the Nationals were able to bang away at the puck under Kibedi's pads until it slipped over the line. Keeson DeYoung came in with six minutes to go in the frame. He played well keeping it to 4-1 after two.
In the third, the boys were clearly starting to click out shooting the Nationals 8-5, unfortunately they weren't able to net a second one. DeYoung's big blocker save midway through the frame was a highlight as the Nationals went home with a 6-1 win and had a 20-13 shot advantage.
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On October 8, Kibedi got the start unfortunately #11 who had a big game the previous day, broke in and roofed it 14 seconds in. He was back for more seconds later, fortunately this time Kibedi had his number. The boys got off to a much better start putting pressure on the Nationals offensively. Three minutes in, the Warriors got on the board after Owen Martin won the draw and Ryan Watling fed a nifty pass out front to Cohen Bowles and he buried it. The Nationals #9 danced around the defence late in the first and roofed it over Kibedi. Fortunately, Hurley and Ryder Duchesne combined to set up Adair and he rifled a shot past the netminder to knot it at two after one.
Early in the second, the Schmidt line nearly connected as Ethan Schmidt himself broke in alone and rang one off the goalie's mask. Then the Nationals were fortunate for a slow whistle with 3:45 to go in the second and kept jamming at it until it slipped over the line putting the Warriors down 3-2. DeYoung came in and was tested immediately by another Nationals superstar with 2 quick goals.
Early in the third, the Warriors went on the power play with Ethan Bridges moving up to the left wing beside Schmidt and Luke Hishon. Bridges carried the puck into the corner and then found Schmidt alone in the slot and his one-timer found the back of the net. But Nationals were relentless and built an 8-3 lead. The Warriors refused to give up as all three lines had opportunities to score as the game wound down.
The boys are already buying into the concept that hockey is a two way game. The defenders Ethan Bridges, Alex Erb, Colton Campbell and Nate Meadows as well as Ethan Schmidt and Liam Micks on an as needed basis are quickly gaining confidence and are breaking up plays. The forwards, Schmidt with Micks and Luke Hishon, Owen Martin with wingers Ryan Watling and Cohen Bowles as well as Jason Adair with Caleb Hurley and Ryder Duchesne are starting to click and have shown a commitment to back checking.