The SMHA Stratford Motor Product Minor Midget rep
travelled to Lansing Michigan on the weekend to participate in the Hockey Time
Productions Spartan Cup and after finishing in first place in round robin play
with a 3-0 record the Warriors fell 2-1 to the hosts from Lansing in Sunday
morning semi-final action.
In what was an evenly played game Stratford was stymied and kept outside repeatedly by the Spartans until Luke Gaylor stole the puck down low and found Caleb Musselman out front who made no mistake in giving the Warriors a 1-0 second period lead. Not long after the Spartans tallied late in a power play to send this one to the third period tied at one. Good defensive play by both clubs limited chances throughout the third until the Spartans capitalized directly off an offensive zone face off to clinch a spot in the final.
The Warriors started the tournament on Friday with a 3-0 win over Lansing outshooting the hosts 27-5. Owen Singer opened the scoring for the winners while Ryan Adriaanse added a pair. Zach Carman had two assists and Aiden McMann, Maverick Mulder and Calaen Trupp added one each. Nolan Traynor had the shutout.
Game two saw the Lapeer Storm overwhelmed by the Warriors in a 4-1 Stratford win. Singer scored the first two with Trupp and Patrick Holloway adding single markers. Owen Duiker contributed two helpers while McMann, Holloway, Adriaanse, Carter Musselman and Singer added one apiece.
In a battle for first place with eventual champions Traverse City on Saturday evening the Warriors again had a strong effort in a 4-2 win. Duiker had the hat trick while Jack Whitehead also scored. Mulder had two assists, McMann, Gaylor and Whitehead one each.