The Granite City hockey team is currently in the midst of a five-game stretch that has the Warriors skating against some of their stiffest competition this season.
The Warriors hosted the Pattonville Pirates of the Mid States Club Hockey Association on Dec. 26. Granite City got off to a slow start as Pattonville (15-1) jumped out to a 4-0 first-period lead. Pattonville went up 5-0 early in the second before the Warriors mounted a furious comeback, initiated by Riley Vanyo's unassisted goal at 10:27.
Granite City then added a goal by Ryan Tinsley and a pair by Brant Takmajian early in the third period, making it 5-4. Although the Warriors had some excellent scoring opportunities in the closing minutes, Pattonville senior Joe Kavanaugh iced the game by scoring an empty-net goal with 23 seconds remaining.
On Thursday, the Warriors traveled to Fairview Heights to play the Belleville East Lancers. Granite City scored early and often and cruised to an 11-1 victory. Matt Burton led the Warrior attack with six points (two goals, four assists). Brant Takmajian (one assist) led the goal-scoring barrage with his fourth hat trick of the season.
The other single goal scorers for Granite City included Tinsley (two assists), Ian Veizer (two assists), Josh Cochran (one assist), Jared Lewis (one assist), Bradley Stone and Jacob Niles-Smith. Ryan Reader also recorded an assist. Cameron Barton turned away 14 Lancer shots in goal.
The Warriors and Edwardsville Tigers welcomed in the new year with an important North Division battle Monday evening at the East Alton Ice Rink. The game was scoreless until the 2:18 mark in the second period, when Burton scored an unassisted goal on a blast from the left point.
The Tigers answered quickly on a top-shelf goal from winger Cory Johnson that tied the game 1-1 going into the third period. The Warriors then went ahead on a goal by Tinsley, assisted by Burton and Takmajian, at 12:14 of the third. Burton and Tinsley then assisted on Takmajian's 23rd and 24th goals of the season as Granite City cruised to a 4-1 victory.
Burton's assist on Takmajian's last goal was the 100th of his MVCHA career. Barton played a stellar game in net, turning away 22 of 23 Edwardsville shots. The win upped the Warriors' record to 10-2 and has put them in position to win their second straight North Division crown.
Granite City was scheduled to play O'Fallon Tuesday at the Granite City ice rink and will face Belleville West at 6:50 p.m. Thursday in Fairview Heights to complete the five-game stretch.
