Next stop Stettler.
For the third straight year the Barrhead Midget Steelers have qualified to represent Zone 3 in the Provincial Championship Tournament in March.
On Thursday, Feb. 18, the Steelers defeated Drayton Valley 7 to 1 on the road to cement the team’s spot in the tournament.
The game was the second of a home and home total goal series.
In the first game in Barrhead, the Steelers beat Drayton Valley 5 to 1.
Koby Adams kicked off the scoring for the Steelers scoring at the seven-and-a-half minute mark of the first frame and the team never looked back.
Although the Steelers played a strong first period and by intermission led Drayton Valley 1 to 0, it was their play in the second period that really turned the tides, scoring four unanswered goals.
Tanner Whiting scored the first goal, assisted by Zak Laun, at about the five-minute mark. The second came from Brad Bujold, assisted by Koby Adams and Declan Kummer at about the 13-minute mark. Three minutes later the Steelers scored two more goals, less than a minute a part –the first one from Josh Starman, assisted by Brad Bujold and Koby Adams, the second by Mitch Carstairs, assisted by Lukas Weeks and Aedan Card.
In the third period the Steelers scored two more insurance goals. One by Brad Bujold with assists from Nick Botros and Robert Geis the other by Zak Laun, assisted by Danny Dekker.
Logan Branden stopped 20 out of 21 shots for the win.
Steelers head coach Trevor Whiting said he couldn’t have been happier with his team’s performance.
“Once again it truly was a team performance,” he said. “Every player gave 110 per cent and played smart. It was a total team game.”
Whiting said the Steelers special teams were especially strong.
“I can’t say enough about our penalty kill. We really shut them down and kept everything to the perimeter and when we were on the power play we made them pay,” he said, adding Drayton Valley played a very undisciplined game and as a result were in the penalty box a lot. “One of their stronger players, was especially undisciplined and every time he was in the box (four times) we scored.”
Whiting said he also wanted to thank all the Steelers fans for their support, many of which made the trip to Drayton Valley.
“Everyone has been just great from the parents and grandparents, to all our other fans,” he said.
“And what can I say about our players? I just can’t be prouder of how hard they have played and how they have conducted themselves throughout the series.”
Although the Steelers have qualified for the Provincial Championship Tournament, their season isn’t over until March.
Starting next week the Steelers will start the regular 1660 League playoffs.
In the first round they will be playing Edson in a two game series with the tiebreaker being goals for.
As of press time the dates for the games had not been released.
