Dec 23, 2022 | Dan Daum | 345 views
Warriors Lighting The Lamp For The Holidays
The Sutton Group First Choice Realty U14 Warriors were looking to continue their forward momentum at home this week as they faced the London JR Mustangs Tuesday and the Waterloo Wolves on Thursday.
The London JR Mustangs were in town and looking to repeat their previous meeting with the Warriors which ended with a lopsided loss for the home team. The game started with the Stratford goalie getting settled in with three early saves. The Warriors then found their legs and applied some pressure of their own which included a high shot to the glove side that was snagged by the London goalie. After a London icing call the Warriors won the draw and controlled the play in the Mustang zone and eventually worked the puck from behind the net to an open player out front who buried it past the London keeper for the 1-0 lead at the 10:45 mark. A couple minutes later the Warriors added to their lead when a beautiful rush up the right side of the ice was finished off with a top shelf rocket for the 2-0 lead. With just under 7 minutes left in the period London was looking to get on the board with top quality one timer in tight but the Warrior netminder made a great pad save which sent the puck sliding onto a Warrior stick which he then turned into a rush down the left side of the ice and beat the London netminder for a 3-0 Stratford lead. The period would wind down with both teams trading chances and penalties but the score remained the same.
The second period started with a London breakaway which was turned aside nicely by the Warrior goalie. With London still pressing, a point shot that was tipped at the side of the net and past the Warrior keeper finally got the Mustangs on the board. The pressure didn't stop there as London continued to put pucks at the Stratford net but couldn't get another one to go. With London shorthanded the Warriors were able to execute a bank shot for the powerplay goal and a 4-1 lead with 10:46 left in the period. Moments later the Warriors would get into penalty trouble and find themselves two men short. The penalty kill went to work and was able to fend off the charge. With just under 6 minutes remaining in the period a scramble out front of the Warrior net lead to a London player taking a spinning shot that found the back of the net to get the Mustangs within 2 goals. The period would end with Stratford leading 4-2.
The third period started with the Warriors looking to capitalize on a 2 on 1 but the shot hit the goalie's helmet and stayed out. The next few moments would see both teams getting their opportunities which included a Warrior chance that got to the goal line but no further. A nice breakaway save by the Stratford goalie with 4 minutes left in the game kept the lead at 2 goals. The Mustangs would mount one last effort which included pulling their goalie for an extra attacker but the Warriors proved to be too much when they were able to pot the empty netter and solidify the 5-2 victory!
On Thursday the old foe that is the Waterloo Wolves rolled into town to see if they could continue with the goliath mentality that they were accustomed to. With both teams trying to establish momentum early, a fortuitous bounce off of a shin pad at the side of the Waterloo net ended up right on the stick of a Warrior forward who made a patient and nifty move to his backhand and went top shelf for the 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game. A nice play in the neutral zone saw a Warrior forward poke the puck through a defenders legs and onto the stick of a streaking teammate who cruised in on the Waterloo goaltender and went top shelf to give Stratford a 2-0 lead with 9:42 remaining in the period. The Wolves didn't stay on their heels for long as they pushed back and had a few chances of their own but were turned away by the Warrior netminder. The teams would trade powerplay chances to close out the period but the score stayed the same with Stratford leading 2-0 after 1.
The second period started with Stratford taking a penalty around the 13 minute mark to give the Wolves another chance on the powerplay. The Warriors were unaffected being a man short and proved it with a short handed 2 on 0 that was finished with another nifty backhander with 12:05 on the clock. The shorthanded goal put Stratford up 3-0. The Wolves would respond with some physical play and with 8:50 left to play in the period they would get on the board as a player camped out at the back post had the puck find his stick for the easy tap in. 3-1 Warriors. Less than 30 seconds later the Wolves mounted another attack and entered the zone and let fly a shot that was too hot to handle and beat the Warrior goaltender for the quick strike. 3-2 Warriors. A shorthanded 2 on 1 late in the period for the Warriors didn't convert and the period ended with the Warriors clinging to a 2-1 lead.
The third period started with some big hits that saw casualties on both sides and the momentum seemed to shift to the Wolves side when they benefited from a bouncing puck at 11:43 to tie the game at 3-3. Just over a minute later a Stratford forward decided it was time to take control and turned on the jets to get around a Waterloo defender and cut sharply across the crease to open the five hole of the goalie and promptly tucked the puck through the opening to put the Warriors back on top 4-3 at 10:38. Two nice saves by the Warrior goalie would keep the lead intact with 9 minutes remaining in the game. The physicality and penalties would continue as both teams refused to relent. A timely save from the Stratford goalie with less than 5 minutes remaining kept the momentum with the home team. Shortly after, a beautiful stretch pass through the neutral zone was almost potted by a Warrior forward but instead turned aside by the Waterloo goaltender. Stratford would then transition to lock down mode and finished the game with smart hockey by gaining the red line and getting the puck deep and ensuring that fresh bodies were on the ice. The Warriors would finish as the victor, winning the game 4-3.
The Warriors head into the Christmas break in second place in the standings and will look to continue the trend in the new year!