The Stratford Minor PeeWee Hiller Reality Jr Warriors participated in the St.Thomas Boston Pizza Tournament this past weekend. The Warriors were attempting to defend last year's Championship run from Major Atom while competing against 6 other teams in their bracket.
The first game foreshadowed what would eventually be the gold medal game as Stratford started the tourney with a 2-2 tie vs Caledon. Goals were scored by Ryan Haines and Nathaniel Smith. Assists were delivered by Mark Pyzowski, Marek Carter, Quinn Appel and Isaac Nickel. Jesse Merkel was in goal.
Game two saw another tie as the Warriors drew 3-3 with the Essex Ravens. Hayden Beuermann started in goal for this one and kept Essex at bay. Appel, Carter and Gabe Emms all scored while Smith, Pyzowski, Nickel (2) and Nathan Gibb had assists.
Going into Saturday the Warriors were undefeated but needed some wins to ensure they qualified for the playoffs. The boys did not disappoint as the won 7 -0 vs Newmarket and 5-0 vs North Toronto. Both Merkel and Beuermann recorded shutouts and the defence of Kaleb Martin, Colten Keupfer ,Owen Gaylor, Brett Knechtel and Nathan Gibb limited the number of shots in both games to single digits. The offence also did their share on Saturday as Luke Ahrens had 2 goals and 2 assists, Nickel had 3 with 1 assist, Pyzowski had 2 goals, Appel had 2 and 2, Emms 2 g and 1 a, and Max Harvey had 1 goal. Other assists were credited to Smith 1, Knechtel 1, Gibb 1 and Carter 1.
Playoff Sunday came and the lads were flying as they beat league rival and hosts St.Thomas 9-0. Jesse Merkel recorded his second shutout of the tourney. Goal scorers were Appel with 1 goal and 1 assist, Ahrens with 2, Nickel with 1 and 2 assists, Haines (on a pass from Pzyowski that Carey Price wouldn’t have stopped), Gaylor with 2 goals, Carter 1 and Harvey with 1. Additional assists were Pyzowski with 3, Keupfer with 1 and Knechtel with 1.
In the final , Stratford met up again with the Caledon Hawks. The team had a very strong first period going up two nothing on goals by Quinn Appel from Isaac Nickel and Nathaniel Smith and Mark Pyzowski assisted by Marek Carter and Owen Gaylor. The second period was a different story as the Hawks came out hard out shooting the Warriors 11 - 1 in the period. Rock solid play from Beuermann stopped this game from getting out of control. Going into the third, the Hawks scored on a powerplay marker but Pyzowski gave the team some breathing room making it 3-1. Assists were from Kaleb Martin and Ryan Haines. The fourth goal was scored in a scramble by Appel assisted by Gaylor. The Hawks pressed adding another but the boys battened down the hatches to hold on, winning the game 4-2 and the tournament. Great job boys a total team effort.