Holloway Minor Atoms lost a heart-breaker in Belle River AA Final this past weekend.
Friday afternoon, Stratford opened up the tournament with a 5-0 win over Detroit Victory Honda. Colton Campbell led the way with 2 goals. Luke Hishon had a goal and an assist while Ryan Watling and Saunder deGraauw had single markers. Ethan Schmidt, Nick McGill, Ethan Bridges, and Caleb Hurley had assists. Mac Munro made some tough saves en route to his shutout in net.
Game 2 Friday afternoon saw the Warriors play LaSalle Sabres. The 3-0 win was led by Owen Martin with 2 goals and Hishon with the other. Schmidt had 2 assists with Hurley and Bridges getting single assists. Gibson Trotter made some good saves en route to his own shutout in net.
In Game 3 Saturday morning, the Warriors played a fantastic game against Tecumseh Eagles. The passing was phenomenal in the 11-2 win. Hurley led the way with 4 goals. Campbell had a goal and 2 assists, Martin had 2 goals and an assist, Bridges and Duchesne each had a goal and an assist each with single goals to deGraauw and Hishon. Schmidt and Watling had 2 assists each with singles to Liam Micks and Cohen Bowles. Trotter got the win in net.
While already clinching a spot in the Semis, Game 4 Saturday evening saw the Warriors skate to a 2-2 tie with host Belle River Jr Canadiens. Hishon's goal was assisted by Schmidt and Bridges' goal was assisted by deGraauw. Trotter played in net.
In the Semi Finals Sunday morning the Warriors played Georgina Blaze. It was a back and forth affair with the Warriors being down 2-0 after the first period, but they refused to give up. It took regulation plus 3-on-3 overtime to defeat the Blaze 3-2. Schmidt and Hishon each had a goal and an assist which included the game winner with 30 seconds left in OT. Schmidt won the face off back to Hishon who put in toward the net and onto Martin who made a perfect pass from behind the net to Schmidt who buried it high glove side. Hurley had the other unassisted goal. Munro had a fantastic game in the win.
The Championship Final saw the Warriors play #4 ranked Burlington Eagles Gold in Ontario “AA”. The Warriors fell behind 2-0 early again but battled back tie the game with 2:24 left in the second period. Schmidt had a goal and an assist with deGraauw netting the other, assisted by Hishon. The relentless checking of all the forwards and stellar defense by Nate Meadows, Daxton Verspeeten, McGill, Bowles, and Micks held off the quick Eagles attack. The third looked like it was heading to overtime when a misplay led to a late Eagles goal with 18 seconds remaining on the clock that secured the championship. Munro made several highlight saves, especially late in the 3rd, to keep the game knotted at 2.
Great tournament boys!
Next Action: Warriors commence AA round robin play on the road Dec 14 in Brantford and then again on Dec 15 in London facing off against London Jr Knights Green.