Jan 13, 2019
The Waterloo Siskins sat on top of the Mid-Western conference going into Sunday’s game against the 3rd place Stratford Warriors thanks to earning 15 of the available 16 points up for grabs in the previous 8 games. A few interesting statistics to consider going into Sunday’s important match: The Siskins boasted the BEST HOME RECORD in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League at 12-2-2 and Stratford held the BEST ROAD RECORD in the GOJHL at 9-2-2-mysteriously, Stratford’s road record is better than their home record this season…something had to give!
The first period was very even despite Waterloo taking three minor penalties to Stratford’s ZERO. The Stratford players continued going hard to Waterloo’s net drawing Waterloo players into penalties. Stratford eventually was rewarded with a power play marker at 12:49 of the second frame when newly acquired Corson Searles put Stratford up 1-0. Stratford scored again 5 minutes later before Siskins OWEN LANE put Waterloo on the board 12 seconds later making the score 2-1. Penalty problems continued to hurt Waterloo. Stratford regained a two goal lead when Sean Ross found a loose puck under the Siskins net minder MATT ONUSKA who had lost sight of the puck behind him .
Waterloo made it close early in the third period when CHRISTIAN TAYLOR buried a beautiful pass from OWEN LANE through traffic . A bad pinch by a Waterloo Siskins defenseman created a “two on one” for the Warriors was converted into the game winner by RYAN CULLEN at the 6 minute mark of the 3rd period . Stratford scored twice more before Siskins MATT PRUCHA finished off the scoring leaving Waterloo on the wrong end of a 6-3 final.
Saturday night Waterloo was back in Cambridge to face the RedHawks. There was no scoring in the first period. Waterloo defensemen ALEX TILEY jumped into the rush and finished a beautiful centering pass from OWEN LANE to open the scoring. Waterloo penalty woes continued to harm them and Cambridge scored three times before the end of the second period-two power play markers. Waterloo wouldn’t give up and scored three times in the third period to win 4-3. OWEN LANE scored twice including the winner with just over 1 minute left in the game. BRETT SCHAEFER sandwiched the Siskins game tying goal at the 9 minute mark of the frame.
Waterloo hopes to start a new winning streak this Saturday night when they travel to Elmira then return home Sunday to the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex for a 1:30 match against cross town rivals-The Kitchener Dutchmen.
