The Wainwright Polar Kings must have been very happy when the buzzer ended the game on Saturday.
Relying heavily on a strong forecheck, the Barrhead Midget ‘AA’ Steelers played a physically punishing game resulting in a 10-3 win at home.
“The guys never stopped; it was good to see,” said coach Daniel Lefebvre.
It was clear from the get-go who would come out on top in this game, when Austin Caldwell outwaited Polar Kings goalie Damian MacKinnon and scored at 12:16 of the first period.
This was a game of patience and power for the Steelers as they outworked, outhustled and out-scored the Polar Kings 10-3 at the Agrena, all the while keeping their volatile emotions in check.
Tian Anderson responded for the Polar Kings at 4:44 when a bouncing rebound found Anderson’s stick, which he quickly deposited into the back of Justin Challman’s net.
With 1:17 left in the first, Dylan Knapp again gave the Steelers the lead when he caught MacKinnon out of his net, scoring an easy goal.
The first period was close, with the Steelers up 2-1, but they outchecked and outshot the Polar Kings 10-7.
“When you take the body to them, they get worn down pretty quick,” said Lefebvre.
Two penalties would be called on Steelers’ Bo Fortin and Jorrey Jensen in the first two minutes of the second period bringing a little nervousness to the bench.
Their lead would be short-lived as Polar Kings defenceman Kegan Bowman pinched up on the play, snapping the puck past Challman while the Steelers were down a man.
The Steelers’ offence would explode for four goals in the final four minutes of the second period, getting goals from Jensen, Brett Walker and a pair from Jake Chizma.
“The second period, we played really well. We couldn’t seem to get the puck in the net, but the flood gates opened,” said Lefebvre.
At the close of the second, the Steelers were outshooting the Polar Kings 30-13, they were in complete control of the puck.
Polar Kings forward Nathan Drage would score in the third period at the 12:44 mark when he pounced on a loose puck, catching the Steelers in a bad line change. Drage would head in on a breakaway, beating Challman along the ice.
Chizma scored his third goal of the game at 10:53 of the third period on a two-on-one rush. Chizma caught MacKinnon sliding from post to post, who couldn’t get in the way of the puck.
Caldwell would capitalize on an opportunity at 9:26 when Polar Kings defenceman Brett Bishop mishandled the pass from his teammate and fell, giving Caldwell a clear breakaway on MacKinnon.
The Steelers would added two more goals by Corey Mercier and Caldwell’s third before the end of the game to outshoot the Polar Kings 43-23 in a drubbing in front of a hyped-up home crowd.
“The guys were emotionally good after that one, and hopefully we can carry this momentum come Friday against St. Albert,” said Lefebvre.
