Silver Medal for the "Comeback Kings", News, Tier 1 Novice, U8-U9 (Novice), 2018-2019 (Stratford Minor Hockey Association)

The Warriors advanced to the final with four come from behind victories that earned them the nickname "the Comeback Kings" from assistant coach Matt Smyth. 

The Warriors opened the tournament versus the Belle River Canadians. After a slow start that saw them down 2-0 they tied it up 2-2 after one and went on to win 5-3.  The Warriors got a hat trick from Owen Martin and two goals from Luke Hishon. Assists to Caleb Hurley, Ethan Schmidt with two, Colton Campbell and Ethan Bridges. Malaika Kibedi and Mac Munro made several good stops for the win.

In game two, the Warriors faced the Victoria Village Orange and fell behind again 1-0 but a goal by Caleb Hurley tied it up. Then after going down 2-1 Alex Erb found Jason Adair out front and his shot was stopped but Cohen Bowles knocked in the rebound. Hurley, Martin and Ethan Bridges rounded out the scoring for a 5-2 victory. Munro made several good stops for the victory. Assists to Hishon, Schmidt, and Martin.

In game three, the Warriors took on the Flamborough Sabres. After falling behind 1-0 when the Sabres converted a breakaway, Hurley roofed one of his own then Ethan Schmidt scored to give the Warriors the lead late in the first. The Sabres took advantage of a power play late in the third to tie it up but Hishon potted the winner with 51s to go to send the Warriors into the Gold Championship playoff bracket in the 20 team tourney. Assists to Parker Glitz, Ryder Duchesne, and Hurley.  Kibedi made several good saves to earn the win. 

The Quarters were a rematch with Flamborough but it was an entirely different game as the Warriors came out hungry and were stronger defensively. The Warriors won 2-0 on goals by Bridges and Schmidt sending them to a semi-final fight with the Brantford 99ers. Assists to Martin, Campbell, and Hurley. Shutout credits go to tender Mac Munro.

The early morning Semi Final game saw the 99ers score 14 seconds in and took a 2-0 lead with 4:32 left in the first before the Warriors started to battle back. Colton Campbell scored on a breakaway late in the first but the 99ers added one more in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Early in the third, the Warriors got their offense going with back to back 5-on-3 Power Play opportunities as Liam Micks cut the deficit to one and Ryder Duchesne tied it up with a point shot with 7:33 to go. Still with the man advantage, Bridges scored what proved to be the winner on the next shift.  Assists to Martin with three, Bridges, and Schmidt. Munro protected the crease. 

In the Final, the Woodstock Jr Navy Vets converted a rebound less than three minutes into the game however Micks and Hurley fed Hishon to tie it up two minutes later. Woodstock pressed hard for the go-ahead tally but the Warriors held them at bay until they roofed it on an odd man rush to take a 2-1 lead three minutes into the second.  The Warriors battled hard the remainder of the second but lost momentum in the third frame. Woodstock took advantage of a power play early in the third and added yet another with 6:34 to go. A few minutes later, the Warriors pulled the goalie Malaika Kibedi in effort to get a quick goal but unfortunately they gave up an empty netter.  The Navy Vets made it 6-1 on a goal mouth scramble two minutes later. The Warriors refused to give up however and made a late offensive push. They were rewarded when Hurley and Hishon combined with Schmidt to make it 6-2 with 1:30 left.

The defense pairings of Glitz and Nate Meadows, Micks and Nick McGill, and Ryan Watling and Duchesne really came together throughout the tournament limiting the shots on net especially in the last half of each game. 

Everyone is extremely proud of these players and how they came together to play well as a TEAM. Offense, defense and goaltending were firing on all cylinders this weekend! Added motivation is that trainer Rob will now be shaving his beard for their 5-game win streak!