The Steelers’ proud unbeaten start to the season has been shattered by back-to-back losses.
They were outthought, out-hustled and outplayed by the Whitecourt Ford Mustangs on Friday night at the Agrena in a 4-0 thumping.
The following day they regrouped and put on a battling display against Leduc Roughnecks, only to go down 3-2. Nevertheless it was a vastly improved performance.
The Barrhead Midget ‘AA’ side still top the standings with 17 points, three ahead of the Whitecourt Ford Mustangs.
But coach Greg Schmidt knows his team must rediscover its cutting edge before losing becomes a habit.
It has the chance to do just that with two home games coming up, against Sherwood Park Sandy’s Oilers on Saturday, Nov. 12, and PAC Spruce Grove Saints on Sunday, Nov. 13.
“Hopefully we can get back to winning ways,” says Schmidt.
That time can’t come soon enough for Steelers’ fans who were in confident mood when they turned up for Friday’s game.
There was good cause – the Steelers were one of the standout teams in the Northern Alberta Midget AA Hockey League with a record of eight victories and one tie.
What unfolded, however, caught everyone by surprise, perhaps most of all the Steelers.
The Mustangs charged out of the stalls like a side with something to prove. Their aggression was rewarded with a goal after ten minutes of the first period.
It should have been a wake-up call for the Steelers, but something was missing from their game, something beyond the absence of several players.
The desire, the motivation, the hard graft – the true guarantors of success – were being exhibited mainly by one side.
After the end of the first period, the Steelers had plenty of time to reflect and salvage the night, for there was a prolonged delay because of apparent problems with the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine. However, the officials were eventually satisfied and the second period got under way.
If anything, the Steelers were now even more sluggish. It was only through the valiant blocking of goalkeeper Brandon Ryan that the score remained 1-0.
Shortly after the third period started, however, the Mustangs grabbed a second goal.
It was then the Steelers suddenly came alive. For about ten minutes they showed why they had become the team to beat, skating with purpose, passing crisply, improving positional play and becoming a genuine threat up front.
It was as if a different team was on the ice. With the Steelers launching repeated attacks, the scoreboard suddenly showed the teams level on shots on goal. The Mustangs’ goalkeeper, however, held firm and when his team scored again with 5.47 minutes remaining the pressure on him eased.
A fourth goal with just over a minute left capped a wonderful night for the Mustangs.
When the buzzer sounded they celebrated as if they had won a championship.
Dustin Long, Joel Kocur, Wally Samson and Saige Rozko may have scored the goals, but it was a team effort that won praise from delighted Mustangs coach Michael Podruzny.
“It was a huge win,” he said.
Schmidt did not believe the score was a true reflection of the game.
“I thought we had a decent first period but the second period was really flat,” he said. Schmidt felt the delay before the second period stopped any momentum the Steelers had gained.
“In the third period I thought their goalkeeper played really well.”
On Saturday, the Steelers improved in every department of their game. They got back to scoring ways again, with Brett Bujold and Austin Caldwell finding the net.
“I would say everybody played well,” said Schmidt. “It was an excellent game and a much better effort all round. We created a lot of chances, but could not get by their goalkeeper to tie the game.”
