From the looks of the benches, the Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors PeeWees faced a tough match-up against Wayne. The Warriors had just eight players, to Wayne’s 15.
Wayne started off strong in the first period with the game’s first goal, which went unanswered by Watchung Hills, ending the first period 1-0 Wayne. But our PeeWees fired it up in the second period with a goal by Benjamin McDonald (Warren) off Sylie Sawale (Bridgewater) that was quickly followed by an unassisted goal for Michael Kurtas (Basking Ridge). Wayne answered to tie the game and then, late in the second, David Fruda (Greenbrook) scored unassisted to end the second period 3-2 Warriors.
Warriors answered early in the third period with another goal by Fruda, assisted by Sean Gennaro (Greenbrook), followed by an unassisted goal by Kurtas. Wayne answered to make it a still tight 5-3 game, Warriors. With less than three minutes left in the period, Warriors Kurtas scored another with an assist from McDonald and McDonald finished with an unassisted goal. Warriors won 5-3. Goalie was Jackson Fleming (Basking Ridge).
Squirts Go 1-1 on the Weekend
The Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors Squirt hockey team played two games for the weekend. Saturday the team went up against Hanover with a short bench and a disappointing 4-0 loss, but Sunday’s game proved a stronger showing for the team.
Sunday, the team came up against Denville eleven players strong and even teams made all the difference. Denville came in hard in the first period with two unanswered goals, but soon after the Warriors settled in with an unassisted powerplay goal by Peter Martin (Metuchen), followed by another Denville goal. Warriors were ready to answer however, with another unassisted goal by Patrick Linden (Gillette), ending the period 3-2 Denville.
The second period started strong for the Warriors with a short-handed goal by Francisco D’Amico (Gillette) off Giovanni Sicignano (Warren), but they couldn’t hold the lead when Denvile came back for two, ending the period 5-3 Denville.
Denville came in first in the third period with an early goal that was quickly answered by the Warriors Holden Flynn (Gillette) and that was the end for Denville. The Warriors scored three more goals in the third, two unassisted by Samuel Friedman (Warren). With less than three minutes left in the period, Francisco D’Amico put in the winning goal off Bryce Zalepa (Warren) to end with a Warriors 7-6 win.
Goalie for both games was Kayden Thursfield-Ritchie (Warren).
Bantam Teams Split the Weekend
Bantam Gold continued their winning streak Sunday night against a tough West Morris team. The teams were evenly matched in the first period when an early goal for the Warriors by Jack Ost, off Kailen Vyas (Greenbrook) was quickly answered with two goals by West Morris, ending the period 2-1 West Morris.
The game got faster in the second period when the Warriors went unanswered for six goals. Playmakers were Blaze Perez (Stirling) off Paulie Marino (Stirling), Marino off Vyas, Sawyer Flynn (Gillette) and Daniel Gallant (Stirling) unanswered.
West Morris came back in the third with an early goal that was quickly answered by the Warriors Ost off Perez and followed by Flynn off Alek Bergners (Warren). West Morris managed to put another, but couldn’t beat the Warriors who finished the game with a 10- 4 win.
Andrew Martin (Metuchen) was goalie.
Bantam Black started our weekend of Warriors hockey with a tough loss against rival Randolph. The teams appeared evenly matched from the bench, but Randolph came out with a 7-3 win.
Mites Defeat Hanover
The Mites Warriors continue to play strong, despite small numbers. Defeating Hanover in a shut-out, Ben Carr (Warren) took his turn in net.
Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors Hockey Club 