SMHA ‘AA’ Weekly: Keeping steady in the standings

By: Michael Willoughby

Both teams had successful weekends: the U16 Warriors earned three of four points across two games, while the U18 Warriors won their only matchup.

The U18 Warriors hosted the Kitchener Jr. Rangers at the Stratford Rotary Complex on Oct. 24.

Kitchener took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but a last-minute goal cut the deficit to one goal before the period ended.

Stratford tied the game with the only goal of the second period, scoring at 3:19, but the Rangers regained the lead at 2:32 of the third. The Warriors responded with two goals in 70 seconds and held on for a 4-3 win. The victory leaves the 3-3-0 Warriors tied with the 2-2-2 Waterloo Wolves for fourth in the ALLIANCE U18 AA-A league standings, both at six points apiece.

The U18 Warriors host the London Jr. Knights Green on Oct. 31 at the Rotary Complex, then travel to Galt Arena to face the Cambridge Hawks on Nov. 1.

Stratford U16 Warriors travelled to the Activa Sportsplex for an evening contest against the Kitchener Jr. Rangers on Oct. 23.

The Warriors opened the scoring with 9:50 left in the first period and held the lead heading into the third period. Kitchener tied the game 3:58 into the final frame, but the Warriors regained the lead on the power play less than two minutes later. Kitchener tied the game midway through the period, and both teams settled for a contested 2-2 draw.

At the William Allman Memorial Arena on Oct. 25, the Warriors hosted the Woodstock Jr. Navy Vets.

Woodstock scored first with 5:13 left in the first period, but the Warriors tied the game on the power play with 58 seconds remaining. The visitors retook the lead 2:57 into the second period, and doubled their lead to 3-1 two minutes later. Stratford responded in the latter half of the period with a goal at 7:14, then tied the game with another last-minute goal, this time with five seconds left.

The game was destined for a draw until Liam Kelly provided the heroics for the Warriors, scoring with 34 seconds left to put the home side in the win column. Stratford improved to 4-3-2 with 10 points, good for third place and two points back of first-place Waterloo Wolves for top spot in the ALLIANCE U16 AA-A league standings.

Next up for the U16 Warriors is a statement weekend at the Allman Arena on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 as they face the league-leading Wolves.