The Rheo Thompson Tier III Warriors proved to be too much for the London Bandits, October 14 as they rolled to a 22-0 win at the RBC
Two and a half minutes in, Alex Erb opened the scoring with a shot from the blueline that eluded the netminder. Less than a minute later Ryan Watling made it 2-0 with a beautiful backhand wraparound after the feed from Cohen Bowles. Then 90 seconds later Caleb Hurley banked a pass off the boards that sent Jason Adair in on a breakaway and he buried it. Owen Martin added a pair to round out the first period scoring, the first from Watling and the second from Cohen Bowles giving the Warriors a 5-0 lead after one. The team defence managed to limit the Bandits to one shot in the opening frame.
On the first shift of the second, Luke Hishon sent Ethan Schmidt in on a breakaway and he found the top corner and then seconds later Schmidt and Liam Micks set Hishon up for his first. Watling found the back of the net for his second of the night a minute later after the feed from Martin for an 8-0 lead. An icing allowed the Bandits to muster a couple quick shots on Malaika Kibedi but she was there to shut the door. Then the Warriors scored three shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill. First, Hishon set up Schmidt and then seconds later Schmidt returned the favour and Hishon backhanded the rebound in. As the penalty was in its dying seconds Hurley netted his first from Micks to make it 11-0. Keeson DeYoung replaced Kibedi midway through the frame. Watling (2), Schmidt, Hishon (2) and Martin added second period goals with helpers going to Martin, Schmidt, Micks (2) and Watling.
Leading 17-0 after two, the Warriors switched things up a lot moving forwards back to defence and giving the defencemen a chance on offense. The Warriors got third period goals from Ryder Duchesne, Micks, Hishon, Bowles, and Ethan Bridges as they walked away with a 22-0 victory. Adair, Hurley, Schmidt (2), Colton Campbell and Nate Meadows picked up assists in the third as every Warrior skater picked up at least one point in the game.
The backchecking of the forwards and the defence of Bridges, Erb, Campbell and Meadows nullified the Bandits attack. Martin, Watling, Schmidt and Micks did a great job defensively in the third.
Schmidt led the way with three goals and five assists, Hishon scored five and added two assists, Watling netted four with two helpers while Martin finished with a hat trick and set up three. Micks had a goal and four assists, Bowles scored and had three helpers, Hurley was one and two while Adair had a goal and a helper. Erb, Bridges and Duchesne had singles while Colton Campbell and Nate Meadows were stellar on defence and each chipped in with an assist. Kibedi and DeYoung shared the shutout.
The Warriors are back in action October 22 when they head to London to face the West London Hawks White squad.