NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – Hunter Jones became the fifth Warrior to double digits in the goal column when he scored his tenth goal of the season late in the second period but the Oklahoma Warriors would fall 4-2 to the Lone Star Brahmas at the NYTEX Sports Centre Friday.
The Warriors jumped out to an early lead as Cole Teleki notched his third goal of the season just three minutes and 11 seconds into the opening frame. Joey Delgreco side-stepped a Brahmas check at the far-side faceoff circle and skated toward the slot before dishing over to Teleki who found the back of the net. Lone Star was the beneficiary of an unlucky bounce by the end of the frame as a puck deflected off a Warrior and created a 1-1 game with 79 seconds left in the period.
The Brahmas jumped ahead to a 2-1 lead just 39 seconds into the second when they scored from a sharp angle in tight. They would add a powerplay goal at 16:04, but the Warriors showed a flash of comeback hope when Jones drew the game close one minute and 38 seconds later. Will Brenner worked the puck to the hash marks on the near side and dropped it back for Drew Sutton. Sutton passed to Jones streaking through the slot, and Jones forced the Lone Star netminder out of position before tucking in his tenth of the season from behind the goalline at the side of the net.
Oklahoma would continue to battle but the Brahmas added another goal seven minutes into the third and took the game 4-2.
Jones joined Malte Hasselgren (12), Brendan Williams (11), Rylan Brady (11) and Sutton (10) as the first five skaters to 10 or more goals in the 2022-23 season.
The Warriors will be back in action Friday and Saturday January 6 and 7 for 7:15 p.m. games against the Amarillo Wranglers at the Budweiser Bull Pen in Amarillo.