Cambridge Redhawks forward Joseph Marra carries the puck in a game versus the Brantford Bandits earlier this season. (Photo by Censational Photography)

Cambridge, Stratford, Elmira winners in GOJHL Family Day action 

The holiday Monday provided a full slate of Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League games, including each of the Midwestern Conference teams scheduled to play. The Kitchener Dutchmen’s matchup with the Brampton Bombers was postponed, but all six other teams played on Family Day. 

The Cambridge Redhawks hosted the Waterloo Siskins on Monday afternoon, and gave the Galt Arena faithful a lot to cheer about. Cambridge came out firing on all cylinders as the Redhawks put three goals past Waterloo goalie and former Redhawk Tanner Wickware in the first period. Cambridge outshot Waterloo 18-8 in the opening frame. Things didn’t get much better for the Siskins in the second, as Wes Dobbin made the Cambridge lead 4-0 with a goal midway through the period. The Redhawks added one more tally in the third, and Mike Leach stopped every Siskins shot he faced on the afternoon as Cambridge cruised to a 5-0 victory. The final shot total was 41-25 in favour of the Redhawks, and Joey Warywoda led the way with four assists for Cambridge. 

Also in the afternoon, the first-place Elmira Sugar Kings welcomed the lowly Brantford Bandits to town. Luke Eurig opened the scoring for Elmira with just over two minutes to play in a first period that featured only eight total shots, six of which belonged to the Sugar Kings. Mason McMahon struck on the powerplay with under two to play in the second period to give his team a 2-0 lead, as late-period goals continued to haunt the Bandits. In the third, Elmira wasted no time lighting the lamp, as Matthew Tolton converted on another powerplay under a minute in. Brantford answered with the man advantage five minutes later, but Keaton McLaughlin sealed the deal shortly after, making it 4-1 Elmira. Dawson Rowe only had to make 15 saves in the win, while Brody Leblanc was the only Sugar King with multiple points, earning two assists. 

The game of the day came in Stratford and featured the Warriors against the Listowel Cyclones. The visitors opened the scoring on a powerplay as Tyler Hotson scored for Listowel seven minutes into the game. Clayton Lewis wasted little time getting it back for the Warriors, as he scored to tie the game with assists going to Drew Welsch and Mitchell Casey. Welsch got on the scoresheet again in the second period, assisting on a Zac Hatch tally that put the Warriors ahead 2-1 going into the third. Listowel took consecutive penalties to open the third, giving Stratford a 5-on-3 advantage, but the Warriors were unable to add to their lead. That is, until Callan Christner ripped one past Evan Morrison and gave Stratford a two goal cushion, 3-1. Tyler Parr shut the door for Stratford the rest of the way, stopping all nine shots he faced in the third and 26 in total for the win. Morrison had 29 saves for Listowel in the loss. 

Cambridge has now jumped Kitchener for second place in the Midwest, but the Redhawks have played three more games than the Dutchmen. Kitchener’s postponed game versus Brampton has been rescheduled for tonight in Kitchener. Stratford, also with three more games played than Kitchener, sits two points shy of the Dutchies for third place. Elmira has clinched the Midwest’s first seed, while Listowel, Waterloo, Brampton and Brantford will finish five through eight, in that order. This weekend is the final weekend of the GOJHL regular season schedule.