Dec 20, 2022 | Scott Siebert | 274 views
U16 Warriors secure spot in AA loop taking 4 of 6 points in final 3 games.
The Warriors hosted London Jr. Knights White on Wednesday December 14, 2022 at the Allman Arena.
Both teams came out firing in what was a great end to end battle through the period. Brody Borszcz was in net for Stratford and turned away the London attack to keep the game scoreless after one. The second period the Knights kept the pressure on but the Stratford defenders and backcheck kept them off the board. The London netminder continued to frustrate the Warrior forwards in the second, keeping the score at 0-0 after two periods. Halfway through the third period Stratford opened the scoring, Ryan McGee (A - Petrie, Gansevles) jumping on a rebound from a Carter Petrie shot off the pads. The Knights pressed to tie it up but Borszcz stood his ground and was impressive all night as he secured the shutout. Final score - Stratford 1, London Jr. Knights White - 0.
Thursday the team was in the Forest City to take on the London Jr. Knights Green team. Henry Tuer got the call between the pipes and made a pair of great saves early to keep the game scoreless after one period. The Warriors came out of the gate in the second firing but the London defenders were playing well, blocking shots and directing the play to the boards to keep action away from the net. London struck first with a snipe in the top left corner to make it 1-0. Just before time expired they added another on the power play to take a 2-0 lead heading into the flood. The Warriors dominated play in the third period and struck early, Blair Stokes (A - Abel) firing one past the London netminder to put the Warriors within a goal. Ryan Gansevles appeared to jam one in shortly after however the referee called it off saying the puck slid under the jostled net. A late power play gave the Warriors the advantage they were looking for but they couldn't keep control and London pushed one into the empty net. Final Score - Stratford - 1, London Jr. Knights Green - 3.
Saturday December 18 the Cambridge Hawks were in town at the Allman to close out the seeded loop for each team Stratford forwards Dawson White and Griffin McGregor pounded shots at the net early, keeping the Cambridge defence on their heels. Ryan McGee (A - Rylan Hall) stayed hot and rifled the first goal past the line for the home team. The Warriors would take a 2 goal lead on a nifty move and finish out front from Logan Hallock (A - Hall, White). Just before the end of the period, Blair Stokes walked in from the right goal line and found just enough space to send a missile past the keeper and put the home team up 3-0 after one. The second period saw the home team continue to control play in the neutral zone and turn aside the Hawks rushes. The Warriors kept firing but couldn't get another one past - 3-0 Stratford after two periods. The Hawks got on the board halfway through the third period, sliding one past Borszcz. The Warriors quickly answered as Carter Petrie took the pass from Rylan Hall and found the back of the net to go back up by 3. The Warriors put the clamps on the rest of the way. Final score - Stratford - 4, Cambridge -1.
Stratford now awaits the schedule for the AA Constellation Loop which should begin early in the new year. The Warriors finished the Seeded round with a 9-2-2 record.
The U16 group would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and good luck to all SMHA teams the rest of the year.