The Stratford Warrior Jeffrey Custom Masonry recorded a win and 2 losses
in recent action.
Hosting the Kitchener Jr Rangers Blue squad in a Sunday matinee, the Warriors would collect their first win on the season with a 2-0 victory. The Warrior attack got going early as Zach Freeland opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at the 10 minute mark of the first period. Stratford would add to it’s lead with a powerplay goal in the final minute of the opening frame. Jacob Bossence would find the back of the net on a nice feed from Carter Stock after some gritty work in the corner from Freeland who also drew an assist. That would be all the scoring the Warriors would need as the Stratford defensive unit completely shut down the Rangers offence for the entire game. Goaltender Nolan Traynor recorded the shutout and made several key saves to solidify the win.
Looking to build on their momentum, Stratford would take to the road to face the Hamilton Huskies. The first period was a defensive battle which saw both goalies play well. Hamilton would break the scoreless tie on the powerplay with 30 seconds left in the period. The late period goal would spark the Huskies and they would add 3 more unanswered goals by the midpoint of the second period to take a commanding 4-0 lead. With their backs to the wall, the Warriors would pull themselves together and finally would get on the board late in the second period when Freeland would score on a nice individual effort breaking into the Husky zone. The Warriors would continue to claw back in the 3rd with some timely special teams play. After killing off 2 of their own penalties to start the frame, the Warriors powerplay would strike when Spencer Eidt scored on a well placed point shot. Jackson Nickel drew the assist with a nice cross ice feed. Three minutes later the Stratford powerplay would pull the Warriors to within one when Bossence would bang in a rebound off an Eidt point shot. Despite a flurry of chances to closeout the contest, that would be as close as the Warriors would come on this night as the Huskies would triumph in the 4-3 win.
The Warriors would head back home to face the Burlington Bulldogs in feisty Wednesday night affair. Burlington would open the scoring 2 minutes in, but the Warriors would answer 90 seconds later when Bossence pounced on a loose puck in the crease and found the back of the net. Freeland and Eidt would draw assists on the goal. Stratford would take the lead at the 10 minute mark when call-up Michael Tigani went top shelf on a nice feed from Corey Van Nes. Michael Pauli would also draw an assist. Warriors goalie Tanner Nuefeld turned away several scoring chances by the Bulldogs maintain the 2-1 advantage through most of the first 2 periods. However, a poor line change in the final minute of the second period would lead to a 3 on 0 for Burlington and they made no mistake with a nifty goal that Nuefeld had no chance on. The deflated Warriors came out flat to start the 3rd and Burlington would strike for 2 more tallies before the 10 minute mark to take a 2 goal lead. Carter Stock would pull the Warriors within one with 6 minutes remaining when he picked the top corner after a nice passing play from Bossence and Freeland. However, like many of the close games the Warriors have been part of this season, they just couldn’t find a way to pot that tying goal and ended up falling 4-3 to the Bulldogs.
Longtime booster club member Glen Bossence was vocal after the game. “One step forward and 2 steps back! It's frustrating, but this team will be alright. It’s a process, people. Rome was not built in a day!”.