Next stop, the third round. The Barrhead Steelers Midget A hockey train just keeps chugging along with no signs of being derailed.
On Sunday, March 6, at the Barrhead Agrena, the Steelers once again dominated the Athabasca Hawks opponents, defeating them in the second game of a home and home series 7 to 1 to move on to the next round of the 1660 League playoffs.
In the previous game on March 4, the Steelers defeated Athabasca 5 to 1.
However, for those watching Sunday’s game it didn’t look like it was going to be an easy night for the Steelers. In the first 10 minutes of the game it looked like both teams were equally matched, both in terms of time of possession in the offensive zone and chances on net.
But after the Steelers scored their first goal, by Nick Botros at the nine-minute mark, the home team slowly started to take control. In the second half of the period the Steelers controlled the play and were in the offensive zone the majority of the time. Before the end of the period Tanner Whiting would add to the Steelers lead.
In the second period the Steelers offence really came alive scoring three goals, all late in the period, by Danny Dekker (2) and Whiting with his second of the night.
Athabasca also scored late in the second period.
In the third period Robert Geis and Brad Bujold added to the Steelers total. Goaltender Logan Branden stopped 28 out of 29 shots for the win.
Trevor Whiting, Steelers head coach, said once again the team played a strong, disciplined team game.
“Athabasca has a good team and we knew we would have to play together to win,” he said, adding special teams were especially strong. The Steelers went two for five on the powerplay and where a perfect 6 and 0 on the penalty kill.
In the next round the Steelers will play either Drayton Valley, Lamont or Thorsby.
“It has been hard to follow at times,” Whiting said, adding Sunday’s game was actually the Sturgeon Pembina hockey league’s gold medal game.
Whoever they play in the next round the Steelers will be short two players, Zak Laun, who broke his foot in the first game against Athabasca, and Josh Starman who will be serving a one game suspension.
