Sometimes the games that look easiest on paper are the most difficult.
Motivation goes AWOL. So too discipline. And teamwork disintegrates as players see a chance of personal glory.
On Friday night at the Agrena, the Barrhead Steelers made sure they avoided all the pitfalls of playing unfancied opposition when they took on the West Yellowhead Rockies.
The 11-1 score did not flatter them. By the buzzer they had amassed more than 50 shots, so dominant were they.
The first period saw goals by Jake Chizma at and Brandon Whiting.
It was a modest platform for what turned into a six-goal second period rampage, started by Jorrey Jensen at 19:46 with an assist by Spencer Voight.
Corey Mercier (18:28), Austin Caldwell (13:26), Jonathan Cyr (15:29), Jensen (11:16) and Chizma (6:46) also found the net.
The third period saw Corey Mercier (12:16), Connor Tiemstra (10:38) and Jensen (1:03) complete the rout.
Coach Greg Schmidt praised his team for unselfish play.
“I thought the passing was really good today,” he said. “We played well as a team and did what we had to do.”
The night was marred by a second period shoulder injury to Colton Properzi, which could put him out of action for several games.
“It’s always a shame when this type of thing happens,” said Schmidt.
On Sunday at the Agrena, the Steelers continued their winning ways with a 4-1 victory over much stiffer opposition, KC Colts.
Their goals were scored by Cyr (18:43) in the first period, Tiemstra (12:58) in the second, and Voight (19:17) and Mercier (9:29) in the third.
