Silver Stick Tournament 2017, News, Major Peewee Rep, U12-U13 (PeeWee), 2017-2018 (Stratford Minor Hockey Association)

Game 1

The Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep Warriors faced off against the Guelph Gryphons for the first time in 2 years to start off their home town Silver Stick tournament. Kiefer MacNeil was in net and saw action early saving multiple shots. The Gryphons got up a goal and the Warriors fought hard to even it up. Jake Heinbuch and Zach Richardson were picking pockets in the Guelph zone and Richie drew a penalty.

The second period started with a Warriors power play. Unfortunately the Gryphons scored short handed to make it 2-0. We drew another penalty and had a 5 on 3 for 50 seconds. Ryan Middegaal kept the puck in the Gryphons end over and over and was ripping shots from the point. Luke Zorgdrager got an assist on a Ayden Hakkers goal making it 2-1. MacNeil had a number of saves but the shots kept coming. Sam Jeffrey was working hard by MacNeil’s side to keep the puck out of the net and to keep some giant Gryphons out of the crease. Owen Holloway had some good chances on net. Guelph got up by a few more goals to end the period 5-1.

Liam Parsons came into net for Stratford. Hakkers was putting great offensive pressure on the Gryphons. Guelph got another goal to make it 6-1. Zorgdrager saved a puck from slipping in the side of the net with quick stick work. The game ended 7-1.

Game 2

The Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep Warriors had already played the Waterloo Wolves twice in the last 10 days — they had come out with a tie and a loss and were ready for a win. Wes Duiker started the action with a shot from the point. The Warriors got on a power play and wasted no time. Great passing between Ayden Hakkers, Danny Van Straaten and Owen Holloway led to the first goal of the game. Holloway shot that puck sideways through the tiniest of gaps - reminiscent of the Millennium Falcon exiting the Death Stars’s closing doors. The Wolves always are tough after a goal against and they settled the score to 1-1 quickly. Sam Jeffrey and Jake Heinbuch got assists when they moved the puck to Ethan Pearce. Pearce sailed down the ice on a beauty rush and shot it right off the inside curve of the post to make it 2-1.

Early in the second period Warriors got on the power play. Heinbuch and Zach Richardson were moving the puck up nicely and getting shots off. Heinbuch had a sweet wrap around move that almost went in. Liam Parsons in net was solid and kept us the lead. There was a lot of mid ice play and with a minute left we got a penalty.

Fans were tense for the last period despite us being up 2-1 — could we finally beat these Wolves? Duiker was essential in the penalty kill and then was working shots from the point. Jared Gould, Cole Meadows and Kaden Brame had some great set ups down the ice. The Wolves tied it up 2-2. Luke squared (Luke Zorgdrager and Luke Heisz) got assists on a Holloway bar down goal giving us the lead 3-2! Heinbuch had a multiple great shots on net. The Wolves yet again tied it up 3-3. With only 3 minutes left in the game fans were trying to

contain their nervous excitement. Gould was behind the net patiently awaiting the right chance. Pearce got him the puck and Gould put it in for the winning goal!! Warriors won 4-3.

Game 3

The Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep Warriors met the Burlington Eagles for the first time on Thursday morning at the RBC arena. Kiefer MacNeil was in net and made some early on saves. Cole Meadows won a face off and shot the puck back to Ryan Middegaal. Middegaal shot past a screened goalie in the top corner for his first goal of the year! Fans and players were all very excited for Midds to get us an early lead on the Eagles. Another Warriors goal came soon after when Danny Van Straaten got the puck to Ayden Hakkers who put it home! MacNeil had a big save but soon after a breakaway got the best of him and it was a 2-1 game.

The second period saw huge offensive pressure by the Eagles and ended with a score of 4-2.

The Warriors regrouped for the third period. The Eagles got up another goal to make it 5-2. Luke Heisz had a good shot on net. Van Straaten was helping the D with timely back checking. A scrum in front of the net led us to be shorthanded for 6 minutes. A too many men penalty on the Eagles led it to be evened up for part of that. The game ended 6-2.

Semi Finals

The Scotiabank Major Peewee Rep Warriors were again paired up with the Burlington Eagles for the Silver Stick semi finals. For the first game of the season we had a regular miss a a game and welcomed Isaac Nickel playing with the forwards. The Eagles were aggressive early on again and got up by a goal. The Warriors were on the penalty kill and Wes Duiker did a wonderful job of repeatedly getting the puck out of our end. We had a few shots on net but the period ended 2-0 for the Eagles.

Liam Parsons in net was put to the test in the second period. He had save after save moving in all directions and using stick, glove and pads to repel the puck. Ethan Pearce got a few great rushes down the ice and shots fired off but nothing was getting past this goalie. Coincidental minors were called and play stayed 5 on 5. The Warriors put huge pressure on the Eagles and the puck stayed in their end for most of the period. Parsons was strong every time the Eagles bore down on him and the score stayed 2-0.

Fans could feel the Stratford momentum building. Not a single kid was giving up on the play. Nickel was fitting in well with the team and had some nice passes to his line mates. Parsons was on fire! Fans were oohing and ahhing over some of the impossible saves he was making! Kaden Brame and Jared Gould were feverishly working the puck and trying to get shots on net. The Warriors got a power play at the end of the game and Gould had multiple shots but the Eagles goalie was impenetrable. Multiple times a loose puck would just eek out the wrong way into the crease - no luck to be had. Parsons had to be at 25 saves by now and the game ended 2-0. Good effort boys!