The ST THOMAS MINOR ATOM STARS battled and lead for the twice in the game but the Stratford Warriors had the same determination to fight for this game. Both teams were up for the challenge and with great passing and teamwork both played for the win.
Maclane Stringle got tested right from the beginning of the puck drop and made save after save, stop after stop. The STARS FANS were right in it with Maclane as he made the initial saves and when a rebound occurred he gobbled them up as well. The game got a bit chippy after Maclane saved a juggler against the post as the referee blew the whistle. There were over forty shots in the game that he saved to keep the STARS in the game.
The STARS offense had an equally good time sending shots at the Warrior’s net minder and he was able to save most shots too. Jayce Smith, Keavan Milmine and Brennen Smith were able to rush to the Warriors net on almost every shift but were denied each time. Brennan Bradley kept chasing down the puck on the wing and sending his line mates ever closer to the Stratford end. James Martin and Evan Clarke battled and fought for puck possession in our end and were able to clear the puck out past our blue line to relieve the mounting pressure. As the Warriors were coming in fast and furious, they ended up coughing up the puck and Ethan Miron was able to capitalize on the give away and headed for the STARS opening goal.
Mike Roth and Josh Niles in a heated stick battle in front of the STARS net were able to clear the puck away and on the opposite side the defense pair were able to send shots to the net surprising the Warriors forwards but not the goalie. Jeffery Carr got caught in another battle in front of the net when Stratford was able to apply a huge amount of pressure. The Warriors were able to tie it up as a puck was deflected.
Jack Pigram, Kyle Wiebe and Ethan Georgijev had the Warriors forwards tied up for most of the time in centre ice trapping the puck against the boards and creating chances for the STARS. The ST THOMAS boys took the lead for the second time when Colton Wiacek had the puck pinned against the boards, won control and sent it up to Hunter Nurse who skated up and gave a quick back handed pass over to the open winger Ethan Miron who swept it under the goalie for the lead. The line of Ethan, Brennan B, and Hunter had some fantastic end to end passing and rushing to the opponent’s net and also stopped and blocked shots in our own end.
After another rugby scrimmage in front of the STARS end the Warriors again managed to have the puck to the back of the net for the tie.
The STARS fans were cheering play for play, some going hoarse at the end. There were cheers for all, defense, forwards, and goalie alike. It was an entertaining game to experience with the back and forth pressure plays. Even though the STARS didn’t get more to the scoreboard, the passing and hard skating was great to see.
GO STARS!!!!