The Royal LePage Hiller Realty Minor Peewee Rep Warriors ended the Burlington Cougars Blue season Tuesday night. The Warriors knew they had to step up their game after the devastating loss on Sunday. The Dufferin arena was packed with fans, as the game started with intensity. Fans waited to see which team would score the first goal, knowing that in the previous games whoever scored first won the game.
The duo of Nathan Slaght and Owen Hunt got the crowd going wild. Slaght scored the Warriors first goal, assisted by Hunt mid way through the first. The Warriors stayed strong shutting down the Cougars attempts to get into their zone, which frustrated the Cougars. The first period ended with the Warriors leading 1-0.
The Second period the Warriors turned up the heat. The Cougars many attempts to penetrate the Warriors solid defensive lines continued to fail. The Warriors strategic play dominated the game. Charlie Holloway slipped a goal past the Cougars goaltender to make the game 2-0. Holloway’s goal was assisted by a nice pass from Ryan Cassone. The Warriors kept attacking. Just a little over a minute later Colton Brenzil added another Warrior’s goal, assisted by Taten Mikel. The Cougars continued to be shut down further, igniting their tempers. The Warriors ended the second period with a beauty drop pass from Slaght to Rylan DeBoeck who scored the Warrior’s 4th goal of the game.
The third period saw lots of fireworks and a desperation in the Cougars to stay alive. Five minutes into the third an intense scramble was happening in front of the Warrior’s net. Bodies were flying and so were the tempers. This resulted in a Cougar being ejected from the game, everyone tried to regroup awaiting the final call from the officials. The Cougars returned with a new fight in their blood and managed to get their first goal. At the five minute mark they pulled the goalie, putting on the extra attacker. The battles were intense, but Mikel picked up the puck and shot it from the Warrior’s zone finding the open net. To make it 5-1. Off the face off at centre seconds later the Cougars retaliated with a goal. With less than a minute to go the Warriors scored the final goal of the game. Boden Lyons shot it in, he was assisted by Cole Hishon. The buzzer went and the Warriors secured their spot in the finals with the 6-2 win. The Warrior’s celebrations continued at Wednesday nights practice as they were rewarded for finishing Minor Peewee Bristol Division Champions. The Warrior’s next series starts up Saturday Night 6pm at the Rotary Complex against the Woodstock Jr.Navy Vets. LET’S GO WARRIORS!
by Kristy Taylor