The Dunny's Source for Sports Warriors Minor Peewee MD team took part in the Barrie Canadian Tire Classic, November 22-24.
The Warriors opened the tourney strong with their best performance versus the eventual winners the Kingston Canadiens. With goalie Jake Taylor and AP Henry Tuer unavailable for the weekend, forward Reed Bowles was back between the pipes and he rose to the challenge versus the high ranked and eventual champion squad. Mid way through the first, Kingston capitalized on a rebound going upstairs. The Warriors played strong defence and kept the shooters to the outside as much as possible through the first two periods. Early in the third, Kingston added its second before netting a third with just over six minutes to go. The Warriors were finally able to get several great quality chances late and were finally rewarded with three minutes left. Owen Van Gestel's point shot was stopped but Liam Benton jumped on the rebound. Bowles was outstanding in the contest flashing the glove repeatedly to frustrate the Canadiens shooters.
The Oshawa Generals capitalized 90 seconds into game two and then added another on a three on oh a minute later. With three minutes left in the frame, Mark Martin intercepted at the defensive blueline and used his speed to beat the defenders before ripping a shot past the netminder to cut the deficit to one. Unfortunately, the Generals killed that momentum 20 seconds later. Early in the second, Bowles came up with a huge glove save on a three on oh. Midway through the second, Caellum Parsons fed Will McKee at the point and his shot eluded the netminder to make it 3-2. A penalty late in the frame proved costly four seconds later and the Warriors were down 4-2 after two. Early in the third, Bowles made a fantastic first save but the attacker netted the rebound to take the wind out of the Warriors' sails. They added two more late to take it 7-2.
First up on November 23 were the Belliville Jr. Bulls. Andre Lefebrve opened the scoring late in the first, jamming at the rebound until he was able to get it up and over the goal pad. Blake McIntosh and Benton picked up assists. Belleville exploded with four goals in the second and added a fifth early in the third to walk away with a 5-1 win.
In game four versus the Orillia Terriers. Trying to generate more offense, the Warriors switched things up a bit offensively. The teams exchanged chances unfortunately the Warriors' centre was thrown out of the faceoff with seven seconds to go in the first and less than a second later it was in the back of the net. The Warriors pulled out all the stops to tie it up unfortunately they were unable to pot one and fell 1-0. Van Gestel, McIntosh and Henry Flanagan did a great job killing off a coincidental double minor for roughing to defender McKee late in the second. The Warriors were unable to bury one despite several chances on the power play late in the third. The Terriers were credited with an empty netter at the buzzer.
The Warriors will be looking to regroup and get back in the win column when they face Kitchener Junior Rangers Blue, November 28 before hosting the Cambridge Hawks, November 30 at 6:45 at the Molson Arena and the St. Catharines Hurricanes, December 1 at the Allman Arena at 3 p.m.