Jr. Warriors Early Bird Tournament Champions
The Stratford Canadian Tire Bantam Warriors compiled a perfect record of 4-0-1 record this past weekend to take home gold in the 1st Annual Stratford Jr. Warriors Early Bird Tournament, held in Stratford and surrounding centers this past weekend.
The Warriors started off round robin play Friday with a pair of victories, 2-1 over the Centre Wellington Fusion in the morning, and then 3-2 over the Dorchester Dragons later the same day. In the opener against Centre Wellington, Caleb Musselman and Maverick Mulder scored for the Warriors to get things off on the right foot for Stratford. Mulder’s tally, a power play marker was assisted by Zach Carman, while Carter Musselman and Patrick Holloway assisted on the Warriors opening goal.
In the second game of the day, Stratford jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held off a late surge by the Dorchester, edging the Dragons 3-2. Caleb Musselman had two goals and an assist, with Erik Smith scoring the third Warrior goal. Other assists went to Holloway and Mulder, sending Stratford into Saturday’s play with a 2-0 record.
Saturday morning, the only blemish to Stratford’s record came at the hands of the Sarnia Sting, who scored with 8:42 left in the game to tie the game 2-2, a score that ended up being the final score. Jack Whitehead and Carter Musselman were the goal scorers this time around, with assists going to Nathan Graff, Holloway, Carter Musselman and Caleb Musselman.
The Warriors, already ensured of a birth in the final, finished off round robin play Saturday afternoon, with a 3-1 win over the Brampton 45’s. Holloway had a goal and assist, and Caleb Musselman two assists in the win for Stratford. Zach Carman and Carter Musselman rounded out the scoring, with Owen Fraser and Braydon Tinning each picking up individual helpers.
Stratford finished first in the division, with a 4-0-1 record, with a rematch against Dorchester to decide the Bantam Championship. Stratford handled the Dragons much easier the second time around, cruising to a 4-0 win to take home the title. Tallyn Soper led the way with the shutout. Soper and Aaron Waugh both played well in goal all weekend, allowing only 6 goals through the five games in the tournament. Scoring for Stratford in the gold medal game was Owen Duiker, from Mulder, Owen Fraser, assisted by Holloway, and Mulder with his second of the tournament. Erik Smith closed out Warrior scoring with assists from line mates Braydon Tinning and Zach Carman.