Warriors reverted back to winning ways; veteran trio makes impact in the GOHL prospect game

The Stratford Hunter Steel Warriors have reached their halfway point of the season. Through 27 games, the team is 17-6-2-2, good for fifth in the Western Conference. Statistically, the team has mixed results. They have the third-worst goals in the conference with 96, and the third-least goals allowed with 72.

The team management staff of director of operations Jason Clarke, general manager Nick Parr and assistant general manager Mark Nelson discussed the current state of the team at the midway point of the season.

“I thought we've been pretty good,” Nelson said. “… You look at the amount of games we've lost, and we've had some close games and ones we thought we could have won.

“But I think overall, I think we must be fairly pleased with what we got. The kids are starting to get better and adjusting, and I think the learning curve is going the right way.”

“I think performance-wise, we're a very hard-working team. I do like us defensively, and I think we've out-chanced a lot of teams,” Parr said. “We haven't some other teams, a couple of teams above us. We have five games and hands-on, so we're in a good spot. But it also means we have to win those games that we have in hand.”

“I am very happy with the group and the work ethic and our record to date. I think we'd like a few more wins if we can, but in the same frame, you know, we've got points in 21 of the 27 games. It looks a little different in the standings because of the games in hand,” Clarke said.

“We're just not fine in the back of the net. I really think we continue to go, shoot teams the way we are. The pucks eventually got to start going in, and I'm really relying on that to start happening.”

Team captain Haden Frayne likes what the team has performed and is confident in the potential turnaround.

“I think it's been good. Had a little bump in the road here the last couple of games, but I think it's just something that we can fix up,” Frayne said.

“We have a good group in there, and we're all really close, and I think we can tie it together for this last half of the season. Have a good stretch for the playoffs.”

Heading into the last week of games before the holiday break, Max Wildfong has been a key contributor for the team, which has struggled offensively in recent weeks. Wildfong has scored in seven straight games and recorded a point in 11 straight games.

“Yeah, it obviously feels great. I couldn't have done it with all my line mates, and it's not really in my head right now. I'm just kind of focusing on the team and just next those next games and just hoping to punch our ticket into the playoffs,” Wildfong said.

With stormy weather, the Warriors were looking forward to the Christmas break on a warm note as they hosted the Elmira Sugar Kings at the Allman Arena on Dec. 19.

Elmira opened the scoring 32 seconds into the game and increased their lead to 2-0 midway through the period. Stratford got on the board late in the period on a powerplay goal by Aaron Green from Joseph Curtin and Coen Galbraith.

Stratford tied the game with 6:41 left in the second period by Jonas Schmidt’s 12th of the season from Lucas Minard. But the visitors retaken the lead before the period ended with 1:49 left.

The Sugar Kings restored their two-goal lead less than three minutes into the third period, but Dax Vader’s goal from Minard and Galbraith put the Warriors back to within one with 4:39 left in regulation.

Despite the final offensive push with the extra attacker, with less than two minutes left in the period, the Warriors were unable to find the equalizer, and the Sugar Kings prevailed with an empty-net goal, winning 5-3.

Head coach Dave Williams spoke to the Times about the team’s performance against one of the league’s top teams.

“There was a lot that I liked about how we played tonight. Kind of got chased in the game early on with that early goal, and it fell behind. I thought we stuck with it, got ourselves back tied up and kept pushing here at the end. So, there's lots to like,” Williams said.

“It never feels good to lose, but that's a pretty good hockey team over there as well. So, you're going to have nights where you play a pretty good game, but the team on the other side is also going to have their moments as well.”

Stratford travelled to Strathroy on Dec. 20 to face the Rockets in their last game before the holiday break.

The Rockets got on the board midway through the first period and increased their lead to 2-0 with 7:04 remaining in the opening frame.

Dominic Marshall scored with 3:26 remaining in the second period, and Galbraith put the visitors to within a goal heading into the third period. Early in the third period, the Warriors killed off a four-minute penalty, and with five minutes remaining in regulation, they tied the game on a goal from Evan Arnold, assisted by McQuen Haylock.

The game went into overtime, but the Rockets prevailed 56 seconds into the extra frame and picked up.

Williams appreciated the team finding their way to get a point despite the tough start in the first period.

“Well, I didn't like our first period. Thought it's probably the worst period we played in some time. We talked a lot about it ahead of time, not getting on holidays ahead of ourselves, but felt like the group was already on holiday time with that first period and got it to the guys. I thought they battled hard in the second and third,” Williams said.

Williams says the team is looking forward to having much-needed time off.

“Guys all get home and get a break. Our guys put in a lot of time and work hard, and sure, they're playing games they love. They're passionate about some of the personal sacrifices. Nice for everybody, coaches and staff and players included, to spend all the time with their family over the holiday.”

On Dec. 30, three members of the Warriors participated in the GOHL U21 Prospects Challenge at the Western Fair Complex in London. Schmidt and Curtin were part of Team Williams, and Bender was part of Team Bondy.

Dave Schlitt, part of the Team Williams coaching staff, shared his thoughts on taking part in the event and what it means for the trio of Warriors competing in the game.

“I think, personally, I've always enjoyed being part of these events that the league fits into a good event. It's enjoyable working with other coaches across the league, getting to know them a little bit, and working with players from the different teams,” Schlitt said.

“I think for our three guys, it's a good opportunity to showcase their abilities. And we've got the best 19, 20-year-olds from across the league, and it's a good opportunity to showcase their abilities. And hopefully put on a good performance for themselves individually, and maybe it's a good reflection as a whole.”

Bender got the start in goal for Team Bondy and had a good performance with 16 saves in 18 shots, but was relieved at the 9:37 mark of the second period. Schmidt and Curtin combined for five points for Team Williams in the 9-6 win.

The trio spoke to the Times about their experiences at the event.

“It was fun. It's a different being on the other side, playing against them. But yeah, they're both really good players, so that was good to be able to play against them as well,” Bender said. “Overall, it was good. It was fun. I was happy to be selected. I had a fun time.”

“I mean, it was lots of fun. We experienced playing against each other. But he (Bender) made a great save on me in the first, and obviously, we get to shoot on him all the time. So, it's a bit of an advantage, maybe, to the shooter, but yeah, it's really fun to play against him and play with Kurtz (Curtin) and be coached by Schlitty (Schlitt) in a bit of a different way,” Schmidt said.

“Yeah, it was obviously a lot of high-octane players, and I was really fast, but really offensive out there today. And yeah, it was a lot of fun to play, play with and against different guys.”

“It was a very skilled game, very fast, different from what you see on a regular night. But, I mean, it was a lot of fun, and I'm glad we got to be a part of this event. And, I mean, I think the game went well for all three of us, so I'm very, very happy,” Curtin said.

Before the Warriors returned to action, they acquired a familiar face in Jaxson Broda from the Trenton Golden Hawks of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) on Jan. 1. Broda played with the Warriors from 2022 to 2024, appeared in 45 games and registered nine goals with 24 assists for 33 points.

While playing with the Golden Hawks, Broda was a member of the 2024-2025 OJHL Championship (Centennial Cup) team.

Williams said he likes the re-acquisition of Broda to the team and hopes the championship experience can prove beneficial for the club heading into the preseason in less than two months' time.

“That's a really nice addition, a really nice Christmas surprise … So I think it should be a really smooth transition for him coming back,” Williams said.

“Haven't had him play here for a season, and he’s been a really good player for Trenton, so we expect to come back and be a really significant piece here as we push the regular season into playoffs.

Broda says it feels good to be back with the Warriors.

“It's amazing. I missed the environment around here. Obviously, the guys are always good when you come around here. So, it was big,” Broda said.

The Warriors resumed regular-season play on Jan. 2 with a home game against the LaSalle Vipers at the Allman Arena.

Curtin opened the scoring on the powerplay with his fourth of the season from Schmidt and Broda at the 7:57 mark.

With the assist, Broda recorded his first regular-season point with the Warriors since Feb. 25, 2024, when he racked up five points against the Brantford Bandits.

LaSalle tied the game with 3:34 left in the period, but Coen Galbraith scored his third goal of the season with 19.7 left in the opening frame from Broda and Grady Murphy to put the home side up 2-1 through 20 minutes.

The Vipers tied the game again at the 7:23 mark but produced two critical miscues in a span of 17 seconds apart led to goals from Haylock and Evan Arnold and giving Stratford a 4-2 lead, and then a goal from Aaron Green later in the middle frame to put the Warriors ahead 5-2 heading into the final period.

Galbraith scored his second of the game, fourth of the season, to provide the Warriors assurance, and the Warriors opened their first game of the new year on a positive note with a 6-2 win.

Given the limited time of practice in preparation for the week’s games, Williams was pleased with the team’s performance against the Vipers.

“It's great to start off with a victory. Sometimes you're never sure about the rest or how rusty you're going to be when you come back, but even the weather was a bit weak. But had a couple of good speeds, had a good start with the guys. Really happy with the efforts,” Williams said.

Galbraith and Haylock say it is great for the team to get the first win after the holiday break off their backs, given the tough two weeks leading up to it.

“It's good to get that first win in 2026, especially after not being on the ice as much … but it's good,” Galbraith said.

“I think it's a big thing. You know, we're at home. We've had a little bit of a losing streak, which we need to fix up, but it's going to get the first one out of the way and bring it into Sunday,” Haylock said.

On Jan. 4, the Warriors travelled to Listowel to face the rival Cyclones for the first time, renewing their “Battle of Perth County” rivalry for the third time this season. Although the two sides played a close game in their last encounter at the Allman Arena back on Dec. 14, this was a convincing one-sider.

Wildfong got the Warriors on the board with his 16th of the season from Broda at 3:39 into the first period. Listowel tied the game up at the 6:35 mark, only for Quinn Kipfer to respond for the visitors with his eighth of the year from Colin Slattery 20 seconds later to retake the lead.

Listowel tied the game with less than five minutes left in the period, but the Warriors retook the lead for good with 2:11 remaining with the goal by Slattery from Kipfer and Green. Galbraith from Schmidt at 5:56 extended the Stratford lead, and the team continued to pound on the opposition as Arnold and the second goal from Galbraith gave Stratford a comfortable lead heading into the third period.

Schmidt scored his 13th goal of the season from Dax Vader and Will Coward at 3:41 of the third period, putting the visitors up 7-2. The Cyclones got one back midway through the period, but it was a consolation as the Warriors lit up the scoreboard and started their first weekend of 2026 on a clinical, dominating note.