The Dunny's Source for Sports Stratford Minor Peewee MD Warriors opened their regular season with a rematch with the high powered Kitchener Junior Rangers on October 5. Fresh off a 5-0 loss in the preliminary round and a disappointing 7-0 defeat in the final of the Stratford Early Bird tournament last weekend, the Warriors were looking to redeem themselves.
With Jake Taylor between the pipes, the boys were tenacious on the puck and limited Kitchener's chances. Scoreless after one, the defenders Blake McIntosh, Colston Kibedi, Will McKee, Henry Flanagan, Nash McIlroy and Owen Van Gestel were sacrificing their bodies to block shots and were clearing the zone as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, Kitchener snuck a rebound in late in the second to open the scoring. Former goaltender Reed Bowles made his Warriors debut as a forward but used his goaltending skills to make a huge block in the third period with it 1-0. The Warriors had their chances in the game but couldn't buy one. Unfortunately Kitchener capitalized on a miscue off the faceoff in the defensive zone late in the third to make it 2-0 with 3:28 remaining. They added another on the next shift. Bowles was hauled down on a breakaway. The Warriors had several great chances but couldn't sneak one home and lost 3-0.
On October 6, the Warriors were in Burlington to take on Bulldogs White. Bowles got the start and made several good saves as the teams battled to a scoreless first.
Early in the second, Colston Kibedi intercepted the puck in the defensive zone and weaved up the left side through the defenders, before cutting inside and finding the short side with a backhanded beauty up high, unassisted. Two minutes later Blake McIntosh fired on net. Andrew Davis found the puck and fed Alex Robinson. He buried it for a two goal cushion. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs snuck one in shorthanded. Late in the second, Davis used his size to win the battle in the corner and stepped out front and roofed it top corner short side, 3-1. Taylor Cook picked up an assist.
With 6:30 remaining in the third, a defensive zone miscue ended up in the back of the Warriors net. Fortunately, Mark Martin used his speed three minutes later to burn past the defender and rifle it top corner unassisted to seal the 4-2 victory.
The Warriors are back in action October 12 in St. Catherine's and they host Burlington Bulldogs White, October 13 at the Allman at 1 p.m.
E. Pennington