Scotiabank Peewee Jr. Warriors had a big weekend picking up 3 points - By Dale Zorgdrager
The Scotiabank Stratford Jr. Warriors peewees had a big weekend picking up 3 of a possible 4 points through 2 road games, this past weekend.
Friday night the Warriors travelled to Kitchener to face the Kitchener Blue Team. The coaches asked the players to come out of the gates flying and they sure did! Ayden Hakkers scored within the first minute with assists to Owen Holloway and Danny Van Straaten, followed by a goal at the 2:00 minute mark by Ethan Pearce, with assists going to Zack Richardson and Kaden Brame.Goalie Liam Parsons also made a big save early on, off his mask to set the tone that he was going to be tough to beat today! The first ended 2-1. The second period was a bit back and forth and at times the game was pretty tight but by the end of the second, the Warriors had increased the lead to 2, being up 5-3. Goals in the frame went to Van Straaten (with assists to Holloway and Wes Duiker), Pearce (from Duiker and goalie Parsons who started the play off of a save and moving the puck up) and Holloway (with "apples" to Van Straaten and Ryan Middegaal). The third was quieter goal wise with the only goal coming midway through the period when Luke Zorgdrager picked up a loose puck in the slot after hard work by Hakkers and Jared Gould. Final score in this one was Warriors 6, Kitchener Blue 3.
Saturday morning the Scotiabank Peewee Jr. Warriors boarded a bus to Sarnia to face the Jr. Sting who had a very similar record year to date and as such the expectations for a tight game were high. The first period was scoreless until 2 minutes to go when Ethan Pearce broke the scoreless game open on an unassisted goal. Sarnia wasn't going to go away easy and just 46 seconds later they drew even with the first period ending 1-1. The Warriors controlled much of the second going up 3-1 in the frame with Ayden Hakkers notching both goals (assists on the Warriors second goal going to Ethan Pearce and Owen Holloway, and Holloway and Danny VanStraaten on the third). Goalie Kiefer MacNeil made some timely saves in the period. The Warriors were perhaps feeling a bit too comfortable with the lead and came out a bit flat in the third. An early penalty led to a quick Sarnia goal pulling within 1 and another goal from the home team sting 4 minutes later tied it up. The last 9.5 minutes resulted in chances at both ends and through remaining 9 minutes, including a power play for each team this game, nothing was settled and this one ended 3-3.
Walking away with 3 points from 2 road games was a real positive step forward for this team and they are undefeated while wearing the new Warriors jerseys!