Back in Business
Brampton, ON- The Brampton Steelheads swept the Erie Otters 10-3 as Carson Rehkopf broke several franchise and personal records as he took home three goals and three assists.
Previously on a losing streak, the Steelheads aimed to revitalize their game as they took on the Erie Otters for their Women in Sports night. Change came immediately for the Trout as they came out hard in the first period to take a three-goal lead.
Not only would the Steelheads go on to dominate the period, but they would continue to do so throughout the game as their lead increased and puck possession remained a staple.
Carson Rehkopf got the game’s icebreaker within the first minute of play, kicking off a high-scoring game for himself and the Trout. Angus MacDonell won the faceoff in the offensive end before sending it back to Finn Harding at the point, who fired it deep into the corner. Following the puck, MacDonell picked it back behind the net before passing it out front for Rehkopf, who sniped it over Noah Elriden’s pad.
While the Steelheads dominated most of the game, the Otters saw one opportunity for a comeback as they tied the game shortly after Rehkopf’s first goal. Dylan Edwards led a 3-on-2 breakout into the Trout’s end before making a cross-zone pass to Carey Terrance. Instead of going straight in for the shot, Terrance used his patience to fake a pass on Jack Ivankovic before firing it underneath his blocker.
The tie game could have gone anyone’s way, but the Steelheads ensured that it would belong to them as they went on to go seven unanswered in the remaining minutes of the first and into the second. Harding picked up the Trout’s second goal of the game on the power play after Ty Henry was called for kneeing.
The puck was picked up at the point by Jakub Fibigr before he dropped it down low to Porter Martone. Fibigr shortly got the puck back at the point from Martone before passing it across to Harding. Finding the right angle, Harding fired it on goal to hit it off the post and in.
After assisting on the second goal, Martone decided to get his own goal in a beautiful play accompanied by Rehkopf and MacDonell. Martone led the play into the Otters’ zone as he dangled around the defence before passing it over to MacDonell, who was waiting out front. Instead of taking the shot, MacDonell passed it down low to Rehkopf, who was waiting by the goal line. However, he was covered off by Erliden, leading him to pass it back out front to an awaiting Martone, who sniped it in.
The Martone-MacDonell-Rehkopf line showed their strength this game as they went out again to score the third goal. Martone got the puck up to MacDonell, who brought the puck into the Otters’ zone. MacDonell then made a cross-zone pass to Rehkopf, who fired it past Elriden five-hole. The goal also marked a significant milestone: Martone’s 100th career assist.
The Steelheads ended the period leading by three, which continued and extended to seven into the second. After the first period, the Otters’ brought Charlie Burns out to play between the pipes.
Gabriel Chiarot got the first goal of the period unassisted after he picked up the puck in the Otters’s zone, deked around traffic and beat the Burns down low on the blocker side. Following Chiarot was Rehkopf, who scored his third goal of the night and extended the score to 6-1.
The hat trick goal came on the power play after Alex Messier was given a five-minute major for fighting. After getting the puck from Harding in the offensive zone, Rehkopf brought it up into the high slot before firing it over Burns’ shoulder. Alongside giving him a hat trick, the set of goals also marked Rehkopf’s 10th career OHL hat trick and 250th point.
With already a five-goal lead, the Trout seemed unstoppable as they continued to dominate the game while extending their goal count to eight before the period’s closure. Luke Misa got into the action, scoring his first of two goals.
Harding got the puck at the point before passing it down low to Martone. Finding Misa, Martone passed the puck over, allowing Misa to send it past Burns for the seventh goal.
Lucas Karmiris followed his teammate as he soon scored the eighth and final goal of the period. Harding took the initial shot from the point, but it was blocked out front and sent back to Karmiris, who was waiting in the high slot. Seeing the traffic out front, Karmiris fired it on goal, bringing the score to 8-1 to end the period. Alongside ending the period, Harding’s assist on the goal also tied the franchise record for most points in a singular game as a defenceman.
The third period started with the Steelheads holding on to a seven-goal lead, and while the opening ten minutes maintained the same score, the remaining half saw increased scoring at both ends.
The Otters tried one last attempt to get some momentum into their game as they added two goals to their tally. A 2-on-0 allowed for a set of passing between Terrance and Martin Misiak, leading to the eventual goal from Misiak. Tyler Challenger also added a goal to the board off a 2-on-1 play that gave him the opening scoring lane.
However, while the Otters increased their final score to three, they were no match for the Trout. Misa and MacDonell added two more goals to make the final score 10-3. Misa scored his second goal down low after receiving a pass from Konnor Smith at the point. Alongside being Misa’s second goal of the night, the goal also marked Smith’s first point as a Steelhead.
After getting a pass from Rehkopf, MacDonell secured the 10-3 victory with a bar-down goal from the high slot. Adding another milestone to his career, the game also allowed Rehkopf to tie the franchise record for most points scored in a single game.
The Steelheads return home again tomorrow as they face the Kingston Frontenacs for their Cultural Celebration game. For tickets, click here.
