The Barrhead Steelers went goal crazy against Strathcona Warriors, thumping them 8-2 in a bad-tempered encounter.
Hat-trick hero Connor Tiemstra proved one of the Warriors’ chief tormentors with goals in each period.
Corey Mercier also struck twice as the Warriors fell into disarray following a promising start at the Agrena on Friday evening.
Upset at the refereeing, the Warriors’ staff became increasingly agitated. One of them was eventually ordered to leave the bench after a heated outburst.
The game – which lacked flow because of the number of fouls called – ended without the traditional shaking of hands between teams.
The controversy, however, should not detract from a dominating Steelers’ display that has strengthened their position in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey standings.
They top their division, with 22 points from 14 games. Nearest rivals Whitecourt Ford Mustangs fell 4-5 to Leduc Roughnecks on Saturday.
How fortunes have changed since the Mustangs came to the Agrena on Nov. 4 and handed the Steelers a 4-0 hiding.
After that game, coach Greg Schmidt found it hard to explain the “flattest” display of the season.
On Friday, Schmidt was glowing in praise for the Steelers’ gutsy performance, saying it showed they were clearly pumped up for the game.
He loved the way his players competed for the 50-50 balls and turned defence into lightning attack with sumptuous breakaway passes.
“The team did a heck of a job battling through the game,” he said.
Schmidt praised goaltender Brandon Ryan for another great display.
“He played really well and made some big saves at key times,” he said.
Not that Ryan was continually called into action. At one stage he was virtually a spectator for about eight minutes as the Steelers mounted continual offensives.
Nobody could have predicted a rout at the start of the game, when the Warriors took the initiative.
Goals from Zak Gannon and Cole Porter on either side of Tiemstra’s opening strike gave them a 2-1 advantage.
When Mercier tied up the score at 2-2 with 9:20 minutes left in the second period the omens still pointed to a tight contest.
The Steelers then went ahead when the inspired Tiemstra netted with 7:07 minutes left. After Colton Properzi got on the score sheet in the third period, the Warriors’ defences began to crumble and the rout was on.
Jake Chizma added a fifth for the Steelers and seconds later Tiemstra got his hat-trick. Jordan Smith and Mercier provided the finishing touches.
The Steelers next take on the Northeast Panthers on Saturday, Nov. 26. The following day they play the Wainwright Polar Kings in another away match.
