The U16 Stratford Warriors sponsored by the Fighting Irish Hockey Club participated in the annual Waterloo Memorial Hockey Tournament held on November 17-19th.
Game 1, Stratford hosted the Soo Jr Greyhounds. The opening game saw back and forth action between both teams. Stratford edged the Greyhounds 3-2. All three of Stratford’s goals were scored by Colten Brenzil, with assists to line-mates Hudson Gordon and Timothy Kraayenbrink.
Game 2, Stratford faced the LaSalle Sabres. Stratford fought hard through three periods of play but a scrappy LaSalle team topped the scoreboard beating the Warriors 5-2. Stratford goals were both scored by Nathan Taplay with assists to Rylan DeBoeck, Casen deGraaf and Kraayenbrink.
Game 3, Stratford versed the Belle River Jr Canadiens. Stratford got on the board first with a goal scored by Gordon, assisted by Kraayenbrink. The Jr Canadiens answered back in the second period. The third period saw penalty minutes racking up between the two teams. Warriors forward Owen Chambers netted his first of the tournament, unassisted to give Stratford the lead. Belle River promptly responded to tie the game. Unfortunately, in the last 30 seconds of the game, Belle River found the back of Stratford's net, earning them the 3-2 win.
Game 4, Stratford found themselves sitting in 6th place. In a deciding game, Stratford needed to win against the undefeated Centre Wellington Fusion team, and by a goal differential of three. Stratford showed their determination to win this game early. Chambers opened the scoring on a power play, assisted by Brenzil and deGraaf. In the second period, on a shot from the blue line, Rowan Bartlett netted Stratford’s 2nd goal. The Fusion were able to get on the board in the third period, with Stratford answering back shortly after with a goal from Kraayenbrink, assisted by Chambers. In a bold move to keep Stratford in the tournament, Coach Knechtel pulled goaltender Cowyn Baker to give Stratford the extra attacker in an attempt to gain that three goal differential. With 5 seconds left to go in the third period, Stratford's tenacity finally paid off. Stratford’s Captain, Colten Brenzil netted the goal of the tournament, earning them a spot in the semi-finals. Assist on the goal was awarded to Chambers.
Game 5 - In the semi finals, Stratford found themselves once again, facing the number 1 seeded team, Centre Wellington Fusion. Both teams were evenly matched with exciting back and forth action. The teams were tied 1-1 after three periods of play. Stratford's goal was scored unassisted by Gordon. After 5 mins of 3 on 3 overtime action, the two teams remained tied. The game would be decided in a shootout. On round four of the shootout, Stratford’s Baker saved the shot by the Fusion shooter while Kraayenbrink beat the Fusion goalie at the other end to win the game and secure Stratford’s spot in the Final.
Game 6 - The Stratford Warriors went up against the St Catharine's Jr Falcons. The Falcons edged the Warriors 1-0 after one period of play. Stratford evened it up in the second period, with a power play goal scored by Brenzil, assisted from Owen Hunt. In the third period, Hunt shot from the blue line and scored with the help of team mate Taplay who screened the Falcons goalie. With just over one minute left in the third period, the Falcons were not ready to be done and with an empty net, tied the game up. The game would be decided in overtime. Just over a minute into the overtime period, Brenzil was able to dig the puck off the boards and skate it in and sniped the game winner into the Falcons net. The Stratford Warriors earned the Championship title and raised the cup together.
Congratulations Warriors - your Coaches and Parents are proud!
