Warriors begin training camp, preseason against Woodstock

By: Michael Willoughby

At the Stratford Rotary Complex, the Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors began their preparations for the 2026-2027 GOHL season during the weekend of Aug. 22 and 23, followed by their first preseason game versus the league’s newest team – the Woodstock Navy Vets on Aug. 24.

Despite the limited practice time, the Warriors outmatched the Navy Vets in a 4-1 win. Coen Galbraith opened the scoring for Stratford with the assists from Owen Misener and Seth Montgomery at the 9:03 mark of the first period.

The game remained 1-0 for the home side until Woodstock tied the game with a powerplay goal early in the third period. But the Warriors retook the lead with two goals in nine seconds from Luke Minard and Dominic Marshall. Joshua Lawrance sealed the Warriors’ win with an empty-net goal with under 90 seconds left.

Montgomery led the Warriors with two points, while Keaton Niereisel, Drew Hodge, Grady Murphy and Colin Slattery each tallied an assist in the victory. Stratford’s goaltending tandem of Tyler Wilkinson and Travis Vanderzwaag combined for 20 saves out of 21 Woodstock shots on goal.

Following the game, head coach Dave Williams was impressed with the team’s performance given the limited preparation.

“Yeah, I liked how we played. You know, we've only had a couple days of practice, but it was good to see us. You know, go out and do some of the things that we've been practicing in the first couple days. There was a lot of positive energy on the bench, and I think anytime you can win, it's just a really good feeling early in camp,” Williams said.

Regarding the first weekend of training camp, Williams feels optimistic about the current group but cites the need for the team to gel in time for the regular season.

“I really like the group. I think we've returned some really good hockey players, and not only good players, but really good people and humans, and the other guys we brought in. I think so far it's been a really positive experience with camp,” Williams said.

“We're a little disrupted right now with guys going off to OHL camps, and with some of that, just looking forward to getting maybe a few more days behind us when we can get the full group back, and I think once we get the full group back, we'll continue to make some really good progress.”

The Warriors continue their training camp over the next couple of weeks at the Rotary Complex, with preseason road games against the Lincolns at St. Marys on Aug. 28, followed by Aug. 30 at Woodstock against the Navy Vets.