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Warriors Impress During First Day in Chicago  ’93 Elites Score 18 Goals in 2 Games for 2-0 Record
The puck has dropped for the four Valley Junior Warrior teams that have made their way to the Windy City this weekend to compete in the Chicago Mission Invitational Tournament. Taking part in this prestigious event, which bring together more than 4,400 players and 224 teams from across the United States and Canada, are the ‘92s,’93, ’94 and ’95 Elites.
Following the first day of play, the ’93
Elites are turning heads as they scored 18 goals in two games and head
into Saturday’s game with an impressive 2-0 record. The ‘94s and ‘95s
split their two games, while the ‘92s dropped two contests. Here are
summaries from Friday’s action.
‘92s
The ‘92s had a tough first day as the team fell in both of its
contests. It the first outing of the tournament, the Warriors met a
tough New Jersey Icehouse Avalanche team that posted five goals on the
day for a 5-0 victory. Three of those Avalanche tallies came in the
second period.
Although the result was the same, the ’92 Elites battled to a 3-2 loss
against the Waterloo Wolves later that day. After falling behind 3-0,
the Warriors – led by two power-play goals by Kyle Larson – made a
comeback but it was unfortunately too little, too late.
Game Links:
New Jersey Icehouse Avalanche 5, Warriors (92) 0 http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392191
Waterloo Wolves 3, Valley Junior Warriors (92) 2
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392362
‘93s
The ’93 Elites jumped out to a tremendous start with two convincing
wins on Friday. In its first game out, the team exploded offensively
with a 9-2 drumming of the Sun County Panthers. In that contest, seven
different Valley Junior Warrior players scored as the team posted three
goals in each period. Jake Kulevich and Colin Blackwell spearheaded the
win with two goals apiece, while Paul Russell collected a game-high
three assists. Also notching goals for the Warriors were Nick Renzi,
Alex Gacek, Connor Helfrich, Josh Gallagher and Dan McDougal.
It was much of the same that evening as the team – led by two-goal
games from Renzi and Russell – had no problem disposing of the New
Jersey Rockets, 8-2. Spreading the offense around nicely, Helfrich,
John Daniels, McDougal and Gacek also scored for the Warriors. Chris
Eiserman picked up his second victory of the day between the pipes.
Game Links:
Junior Valley Warriors (93) 9, Sun County Panthers 2
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392364
Junior Valley Warriors (93) 8, New Jersey Rockets 2
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392185
‘94s
Following the first day of play, the ’94 Elites find themselves with a
1-1 record. In its first outing of the tournament, the team was fueled
by a four-goal second period en route to a 5-3 victory against the
Green Bay Gamblers (WI). Alex Carpenter was an offensive juggernaut
with three goals, all of them coming in that second period.
In that game, the Warriors found themselves trailing 2-0 after the
first period, but it didn’t take long for them to storm back as
Carpenter notched his first tally of the game just 21 seconds into that
second stanza off a pass from Sam Kurker. Casey Shea added the team’s
second goal 1:26 later with an unassisted tally. Carpenter then
collected a feed from Danny Crowther less than a minute later to put
the Warriors ahead for the first time in the game. Although Green Bay
countered with its third goal of the game, Carpenter – off another feed
from Crowther – responded his third goal at the 11:07 mark. Shea added
the insurance goal just over two minutes into the third period to seal
the victory.
In the team’s second game against a strong Detroit Compuware squad, the
team managed only one goal – a Carpenter tally off assists from Peter
Nugent and Crowther – in a 4-1 loss.
Game Links:
Valley Junior Warriors (94) 5, Green Bay 3
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392108
Detroit Compuware 4, Valley Junior Warriors (94) 1
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392366
‘95s
The ’95 Elites – much like the ‘94s – split their games on Friday. In
the day’s first game the team struggled to break past the LA Hockey
Club as they fell by a score of 6-0. The West Coast squad blew the game
wide open in the second period as they posted four goals in a span of
8:13.
The ‘95s rebounded well during the afternoon hours, however, as they
exploded offensively with a 5-3 victory over the Long Island Royals.
Eddie Ellis was the player on fire with three goals, one in each of the
three periods. The Warriors entered the first intermission with a 2-1
lead after Ellis and A.J. Johnson both scored. Johnson’s tally came on
the power play. The second period is where they shined as Ellis – off a
feed from David Belluche – and Shane Eiserman scored to give the
Warriors a 4-1 lead. The team from Long Island battled back in the
third with two unanswered goals, but an Ellis empty netter sealed the
all-important victory. Matthew Marchman and Nick Phair split time in
net, collecting 11 and seven saves, respectively, in that contest.
Game Links:
LA Hockey Club 6, Valley Junior Warriors (95) 0
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392367
Valley Junior Warriors (95) 5, Long Island Royals 3
http://www.pointstreak.com/players/players-boxscore.html?gameid=392142
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