The Warriors signed the former Tier II A Bramalea Blues netminder last week, after winning an appeal to Hockey Canada, which centred on the 11th hour trade between the Kitchener Rangers and Barrie Colts.

This trade resulted in the Warrior’s loss of goaltender Mike Morrison.

“The deal was rescinded by the OHA,” said Warriors head coach Ric Nattress, refusing to comment any further.

Ontario Hockey Association president Brent Ladds says the deal was rescinded for two reasons.

He said Hockey Canada informed the OHA on the weekend of Jan. 23 that given the confusion and the circumstances and the fact the OHL had extended their deadline, they would allow the Warriors to sign Branco to allow him to be transferred from Bramalea.

“We were unable to get the information to Stoney Creek until late Sunday and that brought them into, I think the 25th, which was the last day to sign an import player and unfortunately they missed that deadline,” Ladds said.

“The other provision was that the goaltender couldn’t play with his team until the matter was resolved, in other words he couldn’t play in Bramalea after Jan. 10… We determined that the athlete had played approximately four games, so that rendered him ineligible.”

Branco will remain inactive until the matter is resolved, says Ladds.

“Their (the Warriors) option right now is that if they can find a local goaltender that is unsigned, they have until Feb. 10 to register.”

Nattress says the Warriors are looking to bring in a local player

“Chris (Miniaci) is going to be our No. 1 guy and we’ll go from there,” he said.

With 10 games left in the regular season, the Warriors sit in third place in the Golden Horseshoe Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. The team was in action last weekend, breaking even with a 5-4 shootout victory over Port Colborne last Friday and 6-5 shootout loss to Niagara Falls last Saturday.

Kyle Aquin, Jordan Winger, Tyler VanKleef and Jeff Standon netted goals for the Warriors last Friday in regulation time, with Aquin scoring the lone goal in the shootout. Miniaci picked up the win in net, stopping 10 of 14 shots.

Last Saturday, Jordan Gignac (2), Winger, Aquin and Carter Gardener hit the net for the Warriors in regulation time, before the team lost 2-1 in the shootout. Miniaci took the loss in net, turning away 38 of 43 shots.

The Warriors also saw the return of forward Luke Watson, who had been sidelined with an injury since December, while newly acquired defenceman and Stoney Creek native David Fortino made his debut.

“I think we played pretty well,” said Fortino. “I think we just have to work more in the defensive zone to keep the puck out of our net and keep the shots down. Saturday, there was something like over 40 shots and that can’t happen, we have to tighten up the defensive zone.”

Nattress agrees.

“Chris played well this week and we gave up too many shots, so it’s a lot more than just goaltending,” he said. “You can’t just rely on one player. We need to play better in front of Chris. It’s up to the other players on the team to pull up the slack and that will dictate how much character we have and how much we’re willing to work.”

This is the most important time of the season, says Fortino.

“We need to build up our confidence and build up some momentum going into the playoffs,” he said. “Last year, the Warriors did really well and I think this year, we can even set our goals really high and win it all –we have the team to do it –so I think it’s just about hard work and making small things happen because it all adds up to bigger and better things.”

The Warriors will battle Fort Erie tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 p. m. at Valley Park Arena. The team will play in Niagara Falls tomorrow.