Oct 10, 2022 | Dan Daum | 289 views
Thanksgiving Showdown
The Sutton Group First Choice Realty U14 Warriors travelled to Waterloo on Thanksgiving Sunday to take on the Wolves. These two teams had already developed a dislike for one another having played two preseason games.
The game began with a big hit inside the Waterloo blueline when one of the Wolves thought he could catch a Warrior player cutting across the zone but that script was flipped when the Warrior lowered his shoulder and sent the Waterloo player for a ride. Stratford grabbed some early momentum but that seemed to dissolve when Waterloo scored on a point shot that was tipped in front of the net but the goal was called back when it was ruled that the puck was tipped with a high stick.
Another big Stratford hit deep in the Waterloo zone turned the puck over to the Warriors and was passed out front to a wide open teammate who wasted no time and buried the puck past the Waterloo netminder, giving Stratford the 1-0 lead. The rest of the period was a physical chess match with both sides trying gain momentum. The Warriors were treated to another A+ goaltender performance in this one with multiple saves to keep the Warriors ahead. After another athletic save in the Stratford end, the Warriors headed down the ice and turned on the jets to get around a Waterloo defender who was forced to haul the speedy winger down as he went to the net for a scoring chance. Stratford spent the remaining 40 seconds of the period on the power play creating one opportunity. The first period ended with the Warriors ahead 1-0.
With the Warriors starting the second period on the power play they were again able to demonstrate the art of patience and passing as they set up in the Wolves zone but couldn't get the puck over the goal line. Waterloo was able to gain control of the puck just as their penalized player was getting out of the box and stretched a pass that would send him in all alone, a Warrior player was forced into a penalty to mitigate the breakaway scoring chance. The Warriors penalty killing unit was able stay in position and shut the door on the Wolves power play. With roughly 10 minutes left in the period the Warriors took a holding penalty in their own zone and would once again be tested on the PK. After the Warriors netminder made a fantastic save off of a double tip the puck was was sent up to a Warrior forward who found himself on a shorthanded breakaway but couldn't get the puck to go past the left pad of the Waterloo goalie. The Wolves charged back down the ice and the Warriors were unable to complete a change, this left the penalty killing unit exhausted and holding on for dear life. They did just enough to keep the puck on the perimeter and the Warrior goalie bailed the boys out with 2 timely saves and smothered a third shot for a much needed whistle. An interference penalty by a Waterloo player who seemed to care more about hitting vulnerable players than he does about playing hockey, put the Warriors back on the power play. A zone entry that involved a creative pass off of the end wall almost came up aces for the power play unit after a mad scramble out front of the Wolves goal. Later in the frame the Warriors dug themselves a hole when the were forced to play two men short for 1:39. The three player penalty kill had the entire building on the edge of their seat. The blocked shots, sticks in passing lanes, puck battles and unbelievable saves including another off of a double deflection, proved to to everyone in the building that the Warriors would bend but they would not break! The exclamation mark was the flurry of chances that ended with Stratford tender shooting out the glove hand and making the final save as the Warriors got back to full strength. The second period ended with the same score as the first, 1-0 Warriors.
The third period started with the Warriors pressing hard in the Wolves zone for that second goal but things started to shift after the Warriors found themselves short handed around the 8 minute mark. The penalty kill was managing just fine until a puck squirted across the crease for an easy Waterloo tap in to tie the game. 20 seconds later with new life in their legs the Wolves came down the ice and crashed the Warriors net for another tap in off of a scramble giving them the lead 2-1. With 7 minutes still left in the game and the momentum clearly in favour of the home team, the Wolves looked to increase their lead after a turnover in the Warriors zone that resulted in a hard shot ringing the goal post. Stratford once again weathered the storm and settled down. They got back to their forecheck and the hard work was rewarded when they recovered a loose puck and threw it at the goalie from behind the goal line. The puck caromed off of the goalie and fell into the net, evening the score at 2-2. With 1:33 left, another great save in the Stratford end was converted into a beauty neutral zone pass to put the Warriors in on a breakaway. This chance ended with a no doubter of a shot to the top shelf of the Waterloo net. The Warriors were back on top 3-2 with 1:25 remaining. The Wolves called a timeout with 1:04 left in hopes of strategizing an ambush against the Warriors but were met with a well prepared team that wouldn't be denied and didn't allow a single shot in the remaining time. This was a total team effort and the boys were rewarded accordingly! Happy Thanksgiving to the Warriors players and families. The Warriors next action will be at home against the St. Thomas Stars.