Written by Maureen Whitehead. After earning a first round playoff bye, the Stratford Jr
Warriors Midget team faced off against the Sarnia Sting this weekend.
On Saturday night in Stratford, the Sting struck first but Luke Gaylor tied the game when he tipped in a Callan Ferguson point shot. Tate Gaylor also assisted. After Sarnia took the lead again, Ferguson chipped the puck to Eric Roes who flew down the left wing and beat the Sting tender to tie the game. Adam Windsor gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead after fighting off a Sarnia defender in front of the net and beating the goalie. Caleb Musselman assisted. In the 2nd period, Roes got his second of the night when Musselman sent him on a rush and he scored from his knees after getting tripped on his way to the net. Sarnia scored twice, late in the period, and once more in the 3rd period to take the lead but, with a 2-man advantage, Patrick Holloway made a nice pass to Ferguson who tied the game. Tate Gaylor also assisted. With less than 4 minutes left in the game, Holloway scored the game winner, assisted by Luke Gaylor and Musselman. Kyle Powers got the win in net.
The Sting scored first again in Sarnia on Sunday night, after a scoreless first period in which goalie Carson Knott made some timely saves. The Warriors finally tied the game in the 3rd period when Ferguson converted a goal from Jared LeSouder. Stratford pressed hard in the 5 minute overtime but couldn’t get the winner, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Next game in the series is Saturday February 22 at 8pm at the Rotary Complex.
The series stands at 3 points to 1 for Stratford.