Hats off for the Dogs- Steelheads beat Greyhounds 8-5.
Brampton, ON- The Brampton Steelheads win 8-5 over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, after Carson Rehkopf and Kieran Witkowski, each take home hattricks.
Coming off a win on Friday, the Steelheads were looking to extend their win streak to two in their match-up with the Greyhounds. After a quiet first period that ended in a tie, the Steelheads shifted gears, leading to an 8-5 victory and two Trout hattricks.
The SOO got the icebreaker early in period one and established a solid offensive push throughout the first. Marco Mignosa got the Greyhounds on the board after he received a pass from Travis Hayes in the neutral zone. Using his speed to beat the defence, Mignosa was able to break away and sneak one past underneath the pads of Jack Ivankovic.
While the SOO also led the shots in period one, they were no match for the defensive stronghold held by the Steelheads and Ivankovic. The Trout’s defence worked hard to keep pucks out of the zone, and with Ivankovic making some incredible saves, it was no surprise that the Greyhounds’ lead was soon ended.
Carson Rehkopf got the Steelheads going with a goal late into the first. Porter Martone brought the puck up the right side as Rehkopf followed up the left to create a 2-on-1 opportunity. With Martone being covered off by the SOO defence, he sent the puck over to Rehkopf, who, with the open lane, sniped it past Landon Miller.
While the first period ended in a tie, the floodgates opened in the second, resulting in two hattricks and a 6-2 lead for the Steelheads.
Kieran Witkowski had the first goal of the period and his first goal of the game. Parker Von Richter sent a pass through traffic over to Witkowski, who was parked out front. With no defence or goalie covering him, he shot the puck into the open net.
Soon after, another Steelheads goal was scored, beginning the back-and-forth of goals and eventual hattricks between Witkowski and Rehkopf.
Reed Gee got things started on the third goal after he sent a hard shot from the point, which Miller blocked. Picking up the rebound out front, Martone sent a backhand pass to Rehkopf, who was waiting at the right goalpost. With nothing in his way, Rehkopf sent the puck into the net.
Looking to extend their lead, Witkowski put another one past Miller to make it 4-1. Jakub Fibigr took a shot from the left point, which deflected off a SOO defender and landed with Witkowski out front. With Miller covering off the left side, Witkowski had an open lane to send it into the back of the net.
The Steelheads went unanswered once more as Rehkopf scored the fifth goal and first hat trick of the game. Luke Misa got the puck off the Greyhounds’ defender behind the net before making a pass out front to Martone. Instead of taking the shot, Martone sent the puck down low to Rehkopf, who buried it into the net.
Already down by four, the Greyhounds looked to add some life back into their game with a short-handed goal from Mignosa. Caeden Carlise intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, setting up the SOO for a 2-on-1 rush before passing it to Mignosa in the Steelheads zone. Facing the heat of the Steelheads’ defender, Mignosa made a quick deke before backhanding it five-hole.
One goal would not stop the Steelheads, as Witkowski followed up with another goal soon after. On a failed clearing attempt from the Greyhounds, Witkowski incepted the puck and set himself for the shot before sniping it top shelf for his first OHL hat trick.
With already two hattricks secured and a four-goal lead to end the period, the Steelheads looked to come out big for the third while the Greyhounds aimed to find some momentum for a battle back.
Brady Martin got the Greyhounds back into the game with an early goal into the third. After getting the puck off the boards, he dangled through traffic to get out front and send it into the net.
The Soo goal did not go unanswered as Troy Patton brought the Steelheads’ tally to seven. Once again, Fibigr took a shot on net from the point, which Miller thought he had covered, but it slipped through his pads. Seeing the loose puck, Patton raced to tap it into the back of the net.
Following the momentum of Patton’s goal, the Steelheads scored their eighth and final goal. Martone kept the puck in at the Greyhounds blue line before bringing up the right side for a 3-on-2 opportunity. After getting a pass from Martone, Misa gave himself the angle before sending it top shelf.
With less than half a period to go, the Greyhounds scored two late goals to bring the game within three. Justin Cloutier got the first goal after a deflection off the back boards, which ended up behind Ivankovic, allowing him to tap it in. Hayes soon followed with a five-hole goal after receiving a pass from Sam Bowness from the right point.
Despite their attempts, the Greyhounds were no match for the Steelheads as they brought home an 8-5 victory for their first Pucks N’ Paws game of the season.
The Steelheads will head on the road next weekend to face the Sarnia Sting and the Sagina Spirit before returning home on December 4 for their School Day Game.
