The Stratford Evoke Marketing Tier I Warriors got their first taste of action in the Stratford Warriors Early Bird Tournament, September 28 versus the high powered Kitchener Junior Rangers.
Mac Munro was stellar between the pipes, unfortunately the Warriors lost 4-0, the best result of any of the four teams versus Kitchener all weekend.
By game two against the Grimsby Kings, the lines were starting to click and the team earned a 9-2 victory. Ethan Schmidt scored twice and added a helper and Ethan Bridges scored once and added two assists. Owen Martin scored two while Colton Campbell, Luke Hishon, Caleb Hurley and Jason Adair added singles. Hishon, Parker Glitz, and Adair had single assists. Malaika Kibedi made several great stops including the first saves on two goalmouth scrambles that ended up in the back of the net.
A bright and early morning Game 3 saw Munro turn in another great outing versus Waterloo Wolves Gold. The teams skated to an exciting 4-4 tie. Adair led the way with two goals and Martin added a goal and an assist. Schmidt scored once while Bridges and Cohen Bowles both chipped in with an assist.
The Warriors faced off against the Oakridge Aeros for Game 4 and the Aeros held a narrow 2-0 lead after two periods. Kibedi was great between the pipes but had to head to the dressing room unexpectedly after two. In the third, Bowles scored the Warriors lone goal assisted by Campbell. Munro turned aside several shots unfortunately the Warriors lost 4-1 leaving them in third place.
Kitchener went on to beat Oakridge 7-0 in the championship final.
The Warriors open their season October 6 at Oakridge and then they host Sarnia at 1 p.m. October 7 at the Allman.
Submitted by EP