The Stratford Warriors are continuing their postseason run in the Greater Ontario Hockey League, having earned a spot in the Western Conference Championship. The team advanced following a hard-fought series against their regional rivals, the St. Marys Lincolns, marking the first time the two Perth County clubs have met in the playoffs since 1971.
The path to the conference championship has been a significant challenge for the Warriors, who finished the regular season in fourth place with a record of 30-13-4-3. In the second round, the team secured a notable upset by eliminating the top-seeded Chatham Maroons in five games. The Warriors have a history of overcoming top-ranked opponents, having eliminated the number one seed four times since 2013.
The team’s playoff success has been bolstered by strong individual performances, including forward Quinn Kipfer, who leads the team with 11 goals. Forward Drew Hodge also provided a key highlight during the semifinal series by scoring an overtime game-winning goal in Game 5. The team is led by head coach Dave Williams, who was recently named the Western Conference Coach of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
The Warriors play their home games at the William Allman Memorial Arena, a historic venue built in 1924. The franchise has a long tradition of success, holding eight Sutherland Cup championships in its history, including six titles since the founding of the league in 1977.
The winner of the current Western Conference Championship will move on to face the Greater Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference champion, the Cambridge Redhawks, for the Sutherland Cup. Updates on the league playoffs and team information can be found on the Stratford Warriors official website.
