The Central Valley Warriors hockey program continued their season at home on Jan. 16. Having recently fallen into a slump, losing four straight games, the Warriors looked to change their fortunes on the season.
The team entered game number 15 of their 20-game-total campaign with a record of 4-10, four wins and 10 losses. They would match up against Bishop Canevin, who held an 8-9 record, as well as second in the varsity D2 Gold division.
Bishop Canevin controlled the game early, holding it down in the offensive zone before the referees called a break in play, where a penalty would be called on the Warriors’ Logan Sullivan. Five minutes into the first period, Bishop Canevin struck first, scoring an even-strength goal on the Warriors’ Gavin Husk.
Afterward, the two teams traded shots on the net consistently, exemplifying just how close this match-up was. Nine minutes into the first, the Warriors’ Max Mancini was handed a two-minute minor penalty for roughing. Just moments after the penalty expired and Mancini was released from the penalty box, the Warriors struck back, dismantling Bishop Canevin’s 1-0 lead that they had sustained.
In the second period, the team fell to a 3-2 deficit against the Crusaders, but they did not let up. Courtesy of Mikey Crea, the Warriors picked themselves back up, leveling the score again, and keeping their hopes alive.
By the third period, the Crusaders and Warriors were locked, tied at three goals each. Neither team looked to be on the losing end of the close contest, especially not coming off of their respective losing streaks.
With just seconds before the end of regulation time, Bishop Canevin’s Jack Lyons received a penalty for roughing. While on the power play, Trey Palocsik scored the game-winning goal, triumphantly dismantling the 3-2 deficit to break the losing streak on home ice.
“Beating Bishop made us feel so good,” Noah Fessides (12) said. “We know that Bishop is a really good team from previous years, and it just felt really good and helped motivate us more.”
After their triumphant win over Bishop, the Warriors hosted Morgantown on Feb. 6. The game started at 8:50 p.m. Despite their newfound motivation, the Warriors knew that this game would be a hard one. Morgantown was 14-1 heading into the matchup, only having lost their second match of the season against Burrell. Morgantown has held first place in the D2 Gold division consistently, all season long.
The Warriors took a tough loss, losing 7-1, having been shut out until the third period, courtesy of Palocsik. The Warriors continue their season on Feb. 11, where they face Trinity on the road, marking game 17 of 20.
While playoffs look unlikely for the Warriors after the loss to Morgantown, the team has shifted their focus to acclimating the upcoming players into the newer, higher-level playing environment. The team has done this by inviting the junior varsity players to their practices, letting them see how the higher-level team practices and works. The team has also permitted the junior varsity players to join in on drills during practices alongside of the soon-departing upperclassmen.