Perdue proving his price as Stratford Warriors take down Sugar Kings

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Matthew Perdue is having a time in his last junior hockey season.

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However it didn’t begin nicely.

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Acquired in the summertime by St. Marys after splitting his earlier two seasons within the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and Ontario Junior Hockey League, the 20-year-old netminder from Brampton requested for a commerce as soon as the Lincolns added a 3rd goalie to the combination.

Enter Stratford, which immediately wanted a puckstopper after Noah Bender, who led Wellesley to a Junior C title months earlier, signed with the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals early in his first Hunter Metal Warriors coaching camp.

A deal was made for Perdue, and the early returns have been excellent.

“I knew the group was very historic and had a wealthy historical past — numerous individuals have come by way of right here,” he stated after Friday’s 5-3 win over Elmira. “The run final yr to the Cherry Cup, all the way in which to the Suthy … it’s an unreal group.”

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Private stats aren’t necessary, Perdue stated, however the numbers mirror his significance to the workforce throughout its 8-2-1 begin.

In eight video games, Perdue’s 2.49 goals-against common and .932 save share are among the many Better Ontario Junior Hockey League’s greatest. He’s confronted 294 photographs — fourth most within the GOJHL — and turned apart 44 on Friday.

“It’s been good,” he stated. “The workforce is profitable a bunch of video games. I’m simply making an attempt to do my greatest. I don’t actually learn an excessive amount of into stats. I simply attempt to sit back, have enjoyable and play the sport.”

With Stratford sputtering to generate something within the first interval in opposition to Elmira, Perdue saved the sport scoreless because the Sugar Kings outshot Stratford 19-4.

That opened the door for Stratford, as Michael Denney and Cam Daigle made it 2-0 for the house facet with the ice nonetheless contemporary within the second interval.

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The Warriors by no means seemed again.

“The boys battle laborious for me each night time, so it’s on me to battle laborious for them,” he stated. “I don’t actually care if I face 60 photographs, so long as we’re battling.”

Denney completed with two objectives and now has eight to guide the workforce in his rookie season. It’s been a giant week for the 17-year-old from Keswick, who was voted by lots of his teammates as most certainly to nonetheless be capable of go trick or treating on Halloween.

“It’s surreal. That’s the first-place workforce, however we’re extra centered on subsequent recreation and coming Sunday into their barn and controlling what we will management,” he stated. “It’s engaged on the little issues first after which taking part in for possibilities greater than something. The outcomes will come once you do the method.”

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Denney referred to as Perdue “a giant key” on the workforce by way of 11 video games.

“He retains proving himself out and in. It’s good to see him preserve taking part in nicely.”

Cam Daigle and Cole Lewis every had a aim and help in Friday’s victory, the workforce’s second straight. Jaxon Broda added a single marker, whereas Casey Bridgewater picked up a pair of helpers.

Brendan Gerber scored twice for the Sugar Kings. Ryan Forwell additionally scored. Derek Hartley stopped 27 photographs.

The rematch is Sunday at 7 p.m., and it’s doubtless Perdue will likely be again in web as Stratford tries to shut the three-point hole with Elmira.

“I’m simply having fun with the rink,” he stated. “I’m not going to have the ability to play junior subsequent yr, so simply come right here, get pleasure from it, be with the blokes, benefit from the little issues like taping my stick, conversations, meals after the sport, every thing about it.”

NOTES: Stratford scored on two of three energy performs, and Elmira was 2-for-7 with the person benefit … the Warriors’ plus-18 aim differential leads the Midwestern Convention and is third within the GOJHL, behind LaSalle (25) and St. Catharines (19) … Attendance was 756, the largest crowd on the Allman in 2023-24.

cosmith@postmedia.com

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