Onto Tomorrow
Ottawa, ON – The Steelheads fall 5-1 in our Nation’s capital. Henry Mews led the way for the 67s tallying four assists.
It was a quiet night for the Trout’s offence, as for the first time this season they were held to just one goal. The Steelheads looked sharp, but could not quite solve Jaeden Nelson.
The Steelheads came out flying to start the game as Adam Zidlicky raced down the right wing side. The Czech forward tried to cut towards the net but he had the puck poked from his stick before he could get a shot off.
The Trout kept the pressure up early when MacGregor Richmond forced a turnover before finding Mason Zebeski cross-ice. Zebeski, in his return to the lineup, one-timed Richmond’s feed but it rang iron.
However, it was the 67s who would find the icebreaker. Henry Mews stole the puck on the forecheck before throwing it out front for Luca Pinelli. Ottawa’s captain made no mistake as he one-timed it by Jack Ivankovic.
It did not take the Steelheads long to come up with an answer. Just over two minutes later Jack Van Volsen slipped one five-hole to tie the game. Zidlicky again drove the puck into the zone before it bounced away from him. Van Volsen corralled the loose puck with one hand before scoring his fourth goal in as many games.
Ottawa nearly retook the lead a minute into the second frame. Brady Stonehouse sent a pass into the slot for Pinelli. The Captain deflected it on goal where it was stopped by Ivankovic. Kaleb Dietsch crashed the net for the rebound which he wired off the crossbar.
Ivankovic stayed sharp for the Steelheads, as he denied a clean slot shot from Caden Kelly.
Just minutes after the save on Kelly, Ivankovic denied the 67s from stealing the lead yet again. Jack Dever sent a cross-ice feed for Chase Yanni who one-timed it across the grain. Ivankovic sprung to his left to turn aside Yanni.
Just minutes later Brampton came inches from taking the lead. Luke Misa and Porter Martone broke into the zone two-on-one. Misa drove to the net before sliding it over to the Steelheads’ Captain. Martone fired it on goal, but Jaeden Nelson sprawled over to keep the game tied.
Sparked by Nelson’s big save, the 67s took the lead for themselves. After a battle along the boards, Chris Barlas picked up the loose puck and sent it rink-wide for Henry Mews, who wired on goal. Ivankovic got a piece but the puck fell behind him. Yanni crashed the net and jammed the rebound home to make it 2-1.
Tensions boiled over after a scrum along the board which resulted in some 4-on-4 action. Ottawa looked to take advantage of the extra ice as Stonehouse found Frankie Marelli, but yet again Ivankovic came up with the stop.
It was the 67s again who came out hot to start the final frame. Kelly found a wide-open Barlas in front. Barlas’ wrister was turned away by Ivankovic, but it was thrown out of play by Owen Cartwright to give the 67s a power play.
Ottawa doubled their lead on the ensuing man advantage. Pinelli took a pass from Mews at the blue line and ripped one by a screened Ivankovic.
With seven minutes to go, the Steelheads lost their leading scorer when Martone was ejected from the game for checking from behind.
On the power play, Cooper Foster would add another goal for the 67s. Ivankovic got a piece of Foster’s shot but it bounced in the air and dropped into the net behind him.
Just seconds after the man advantage expired, and before Patton could rejoin the play, Will Gerrior tipped Frankie Marelli’s shot over the pad of Ivankovic. Gerrior’s deflection brought the Ottawa lead to 5-1, which they would hold to the final buzzer.
The Steelheads are back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they look to rebound in Kingston. Brampton returns home Sunday to face off against the Brantford Bulldogs. Secure your tickets here!
