Stratford Warriors forward Drew Ferris is poke checked by Brantford 99ers goalie Chris Brady on Friday night in Stratford. (Cory Smith/ The Beacon Herald)

Warriors split weekend, Siskins bounce back with two wins

Local Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League teams added some more drama to the already-dramatic Midwestern Conference standings over the weekend, as teams jostling for position becomes the norm with the schedule nearing the new year. 

On Friday night, the league-leading Stratford Warriors put their 12-game point streak on the line against the seventh-place Brantford 99ers. It was the visitors that opened the scoring, as Curtis Anderson tallied for Brantford in the lone goal of the first period. The second period did not bring goals but it did feature a spirited fight that seemed to spark the 99ers, as they drew two Stratford penalties near the end of the frame. Evan Ilkos scored on the fresh ice with the two-man advantage just 48 seconds into the third, and Brantford held on for the 4-1 win. Stratford finished the game going 0-for-8 on its own power-play. On Sunday, the Warriors bounced back in a big way against last-place Brampton, scoring four times in the first period on their way to a 5-1 victory. The win keeps Stratford in first place in the Midwest.

Elsewhere, Listowel briefly held that title on Friday night as they moved a point up on Stratford after crushing Brampton, 7-0. GOJHL leading scorer Holdyn Lansink had two goals and two assists in the win, and was joined by linemates Brayden Kreiger and Chayse Herrfort with four-point nights. Listowel was unable to remain in top spot through the weekend, as a 4-goal first period from the Sugar Kings on Sunday brought a road loss to Elmira, 5-3. The Waterloo Siskins had a favourable weekend schedule, facing Brantford and the Cambridge Redhawks. On Saturday night, Waterloo poured 42 shots on the 99ers goal en route to a 5-2 win, and bested themselves on Sunday afternoon by dominating Cambridge to the tune of 60 shots and an 8-2 victory. Alex Lycett had two points in each game for Waterloo. Cambridge was also doubled up by the Kitchener Dutchmen, 6-3, on Saturday night at home, a game in which Kitchener pulled away with four goals in a chippy second period.

So, after all that action, the top of the Midwest standings looks only vaguely different than it did before the weekend. Stratford regained top spot and now sits with 42 points, while Listowel and Waterloo are close behind with 40 points each, and Elmira remains within striking distance at 39 points. The Kitchener Dutchmen have quietly put together a nice stretch of hockey, distancing themselves from the bottom three teams and moving into the top-four conversation with 32 points. Cambridge, Brantford, and Brampton round out the Midwest with 20, 16 and 13 points, respectively.