Last weekend, the Valley Junior Warriors faced one of their biggest challenges to date as the team took on the CD Selects, New York Apple Core and the New Hampshire Monarchs.

After falling to the CD Selects in a tough overtime loss on Friday, the team bounced back on Saturday afternoon with a solid 1-1 tie against Apple Core. Despite having to play three games in three days, the Warriors responded well to its biggest foe of the weekend… the New Hampshire Monarchs, a team that sits just one place in front of the Warriors in the Northern Division standings.

In that contest, it was a young rookie netminder who stole the show. Doug Carr (Hanover, MA), who has been splitting time with veteran Garrett Tinkham (Paridise, TX) this season, made 23 out of 25 saves en route to a 2-2 tie with the Monarchs. Several of those saves were game-saving stops down the stretch which helped to preserve the tie and earn the team a league point. As a result of his outstanding performance over the course of the weekend, Carr was honored with the EJHL Rookie of the Week honor.

One of the premier young goaltenders in the league, Carr currently stands second in the league with a 0.930 save percentage and tied for fifth with a 1.93 goals against average.

Leading the way offensively once again was Chris Wyman (Bartlett, IL), who finished with one goal and three assists. Jon Dwyer (Hopkinton, NH) also contributed a goal and an assist. On the other end of the ice, it was Chris Wilcox (Hollywood, FL), who was a key defensive cog for the Valley Junior Warriors. Playing in three games in three days, Wilcox was plus 4. He has also amassed six assists in 25 games this season.

  The Warriors will need strong performances from its offensive and defensive weapons as the team heads into one of its most difficult and exhaustive stretches prior to the holiday break. Beginning on Friday evening, the squad will play in four games in six days, including battles with two teams that stand in second place in their divisions – Bridgewater Bandits and Junior Bruins – and a rematch with the New Hampshire Monarchs. The Warriors will cap off the 2007 year with a stint against the Bay State Breakers at the Rockland Arena on December 19.

The team will then look forward to a much-deserved 15-day break.