The LaSalle Vipers opened the 2026 calendar year on the road Friday night, falling 6-2 to the Stratford Warriors in the third meeting between the two clubs this season.
The Warriors struck early after Gage Evans was assessed the first penalty of the new year, marking a power-play goal at 7:57 to open the scoring. LaSalle responded later in the period when Mateo Vilardi found the back of the net at 16:26 to tie the game at one. However, Stratford regained the lead in the final seconds of the opening frame, sending the Vipers into intermission down by one after one.
The second period belonged to the Warriors. Luke St. John tied the game for LaSalle with a power-play goal at 7:23. From there, Stratford took control, scoring three times in the span of just over four minutes at 9:16, 9:33, and 13:31.
In the third period, both teams traded power plays and penalty kills. Evans picked up his second penalty of the night at 7:41, while Stratford took back-to-back penalties at 9:50 and 10:25. Despite being shorthanded, the Warriors added their sixth goal at exactly the 12-minute mark. A Stratford player and Joe Gingras was sent off at 12:13, followed by slashing penalties assessed to Nic Rosati and another Stratford player at the final whistle.
The Vipers now turn their attention to a busy January schedule. LaSalle will be back on the road Sunday as they travel to Waterloo to take on the Siskins.
Article: Emma Cicovacki
Photo: Isabella Ruccolo
