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Warriors continue to hold down first place in GHL
By Stoney Creek Warriors Staff
October 10, 2007
They're affectionately known as 'The Kid Line', but
according to head coach Mike Schutte, the line of Jordan
Winger, Marcus Ruberto and Jason Popek are one of the
reasons the Stoney Creek Warriors continue to be the class
of the Golden Horseshoe League this season.
"They work hard and execute on every shift," said Schutte.
"They never take a shift off."
The consistent play of 'The Kid Line' has earned Winger, 15,
Ruberto, 16, and Popek, 17, added ice time this season,
including penalty killing and power play minutes.
For Winger, who was one of the final selections to the team
coming out of training camp, every extra minute of ice time
is a bonus.
"Starting the season, I wasn't expecting to get as much ice
time," said the grade 11 student at Orchard Park High
School. "I was told I would play 20 to 30 games, and I was
just happy to be on this team. I knew when I did get ice
time, I had to give it my all, and make every shift count.
All three of us recognize that if we don't work hard, we
can't expect to get a lot of ice
time."
Winger is the third member of his family to don a Warriors
jersey. His brother Matt was a popular player who spent
three seasons with Stoney Creek. Curtis Winger also spent
some time with the Warriors.
"I really wanted to play for Stoney Creek," said Jordan.
"It's also a bonus to play with Marcus. We've known each
other for as long as I can remember. We've played on the
same line through most of our AAA years. We see each other
well on the ice." Jordan said he also enjoys playing with
Jason Popek.
"He's a great guy, and a strong skater. All together, we
want to make things happen."
The young guns showed tremendous leadership Saturday at home
against the Wheatfield Blades.
After coughing up three straight goals in under two minutes,
and allowing the last place Blades to tie the game with just
over five minutes remaining, Winger told his teammates his
line was going to go out and take back the lead.
'The Kid Line' did just that, with Winger scoring the
winning goal at the 14:38 mark, assisted by none other than
Ruberto and Popek.
Winger added two more goals Tuesday night, as the Warriors
travelled to Wheatfield and came home with a 9-5 victory.
Schutte said his young centreman continues to impress the
coaching staff.
"Our intentions was to bring him along slowly, but his play
hasn't allowed us to take him out of the line up," he said.
"We knew he was skilled, but we didn't know he was this
ready to play at this level. He executes what we tell him.
He has great speed and never takes a shift off. He's also a
quiet leader on the bench, and is very mature for a 15 year
old. He is very respectful of the veterans and everyone
knows he's earning his ice time."
Recent action
The Warriors rebounded from a 3-1 loss in St. Catharines
last Friday, Oct. 6 by taking two straight from the
Wheatfield Blades.
Against the Falcons, the Warriors came out strong in the
first period but were shut down by St. Catharines netminder
Steele DeFazio.
The Falcons broke the scoreless tie in the second and scored
two more in the third. All three goals were powerplay
markers.
Jordan Gignac broke DeFazio's shutout bid at the 19:12 mark
of the third. The power play marker was assisted by Andrew
Dovey and Mike Kavanagh.
On Saturday night at home against Wheatfield, the Warriors
led 4-2 after 40 minutes on goals by Aaron Gorka, Mitchell
Merante, Dovey and Gignac.
Riley Steeves made in 5-2 early in the third, but the Blades
battled back with three straight goals to tie the game.
Winger responded late in the third to salvage the win.
Picking up assists in the game were Jamie Osborne, Adam
Montgomery, Mike Gibson, Gignac, Dovey, Jesse Healy, M.
Ruberto and Popek.
Dylan Ellis earned his fourth victory against no losses in
net for Stoney Creek.
In Wheatfield on Oct. 9, the Warriors ran into penalty
trouble early and found themselves down 2-1 after 20 minutes
of play. Cayle Creen scored the lone marker for Stoney
Creek.
Winger tied the game early in the second, but the Blades
responded with two straight goals to
regain a two-goal lead.
Osborne scored a natural hat trick with three straight goals
to give the Warriors a 5-4 lead early in the third period.
Dovey made it 6-4 at the 7:30 mark.
The Blades closed the gap to 6-5 at the mid way mark of the
period, but the Warriors closed out with three straight
power play goals to make the final 9-5.
Gibson, Winger and Jordan Poole scored the goals. Assists in
the game were recorded by Dovey (2), Gignac (4), Ruberto,
Gibson (3), Creen, Popek, Justin Sanderson and Gorka.
Mike Albanese started the game in net for Stoney Creek, but
was replaced at the mid way mark by Garrett Driscoll.
Injuries
The Warriors played the last two games missing the bulk of
their first line.
Captain Mike Kavanagh went down with a knee injury suffered
in the St. Catharines game and is questionable for this
Saturday's home game versus St. Catharines.
Greg Bryl suffered a hand injury against the Falcons, and is
also listed as day-to-day.
Defenceman Sean Murray is expected to make his return to the
line up in another week.
This weekend Stoney Creek will look to avenge last week's loss in St.
Catharines as they host the Falcons at Valley Park Arena
this Saturday, Oct. 13. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
The Warriors next home game is Thursday, Oct. 18 when they
take on the Port Colborne Sailors. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at
Valley Park Arena. |
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