The Stratford Minor Midget Warriors, sponsored by Stratford Motor Products,
hosted the Brantford 99’ers at the William Allman Memorial Arena on Sunday
afternoon and fell by a final score of 4-3.
The 99’ers opened the scoring just six seconds into the game on a breakaway off the opening face-off. Cole Lewis, assisted by Ethan Scrimgeour answered back just two minutes later to even up the score at 1-1.
The 99’ers scored three times in a seven minute span in the second period, including two goals in the final two minutes of the period. Jonas Schmidt, from Jacob Hall answered with under a minute to go in the period to send the Warriors into the second period intermission trailing 4-2.
Schmidt scored his second of the game with just over a minute to go in the game, with Issac Deline and Tyler Wagler drawing assists. With goalie Curtis Ball on the bench in favour of the extra attacker, the Warriors had several glorious opportunities to tie the game, but the 99’ers goalie turned aside 23 of the 24 shots he faced in the period to preserve the victory.
Notes: With the loss, the Warriors fall to 3-3-2 on the season and 0-3-0 in Alliance play, having allowed 14 goals in three games, while scoring 8; Caleb Arent missed Sunday’s game with an injury and is expected to be back on the ice this week at practice; the Warriors had only 12 skates dressed for Sunday’s game against Brantford with 8 forwards and 4 defensemen; at times, the Warriors power play looked to be in mid-season form, yet at other times struggled to get any offensive pressure, especially during a 4-minute power play early into the final period; Nole Musselman, Hall, and Wagler each had great opportunities around the 99’ers net after some crafty plays, but each time were foiled by a hot 99’ers goaltender.
Next up, the Warriors are on the road for two games on Thanksgiving weekend with a Saturday game in Hamilton and in Waterloo on Sunday.