U16 Warriors fall to London Jr. Knights White in AA Semifinals, News, U16, 2022-2023 (Stratford Minor Hockey Association)

ALLIANCE HOCKEY Digital Network

This Team is part of the 2022-2023 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Mar 22, 2023 | Scott Siebert | 322 views
U16 Warriors fall to London Jr. Knights White in AA Semifinals
After a week long break the Warriors started their semifinal series vs. London Jr. Knights White on Saturday March 18, 2023.

Game 1 in London started out with a great first period and ended with the Warriors on the losing end of a 4-0 game.  

Game 2 in Stratford was a fitting sequel to the same end result but double the trouble - London 9, Warriors 0.

A critical Game 3 and the season on the line the Warriors found themselves short 6 skaters in addition to Dawson White and Griffin McGregor still on the IR.  A banquet of AP's were needed to fill in the gaps with the hopes of staying alive for one more game.

An early PP in the first period gave a few of the U15's a look and AP-F Tim Kraayenbrink almost slipped one past the London netminder early on and AP-F Colton Brenzil had a few impressive rushes that were thwarted by the Knights defence.  A loose puck out front had the home team scrambling and AP-D Casen DeGraff squeezed a shot through the defence but not past the line.  As time wound down in the period, a loose puck found a London forward and then the back of the Stratford net to put the Warriors down 1-0 at the break.

The second period the Warriors had a few great chances off AP-F Cole Hishon's creativity and AP-F Ty Wheeler's grit and grind style of play opened things up for some close calls through the London crease.  An effective power play late in the period had Stratford gaining momentum as they headed to the second intermission.

The Warriors came out and dominated play early in the third leading to a tired group of London skaters coughing up the puck in the neutral zone.  Ryan McGee picked it up, took a few shots to the hands and wheeled past the defender at the right circle and fired one home before the London keeper could knock the net off.  Game tied at one goal a piece.  London would answer quickly to go back up by a goal, but the Warriors kept fighting, determined to get one back.  As time ticked away and Stratford on their heels, the Knights took advantage of a few bounces and widened the gap to seal the series.  Final score - London 5, Stratford 1.

An unfortunate end to a great bounce back season!  Till we lace them up again...........
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