Schooling the Storm
Brampton, ON- The Brampton Steelheads schooled the Guelph Storm 7-4 after Adam Zidlicky, Luke Misa, and Porter Martone each added two goals to the board.
Coming off a series of wins, the Steelheads looked to continue their streak as they took on the Storm for their School Day Game. Looking to put on a show for the kids, multiple Steelheads players took home double points and secured a 7-4 win.
The Steelheads kicked off their School Day Game with a bang as they took an early four-goal lead over the Storm. With Jack Ivankovic standing tall in between the pipes and some incredible plays to make it 4-0, the attending schools continuously filled the CAA Centre with cheers.
Zidlicky got the game’s icebreaker with a beautiful breakaway goal. Catching the puck off a deflected shot at the Steelhead’s blue line, Zidlicky used his speed to bypass the Storm defenders, drive into Guelph’s zone and send the puck past Brayden Gillespie.
Breakaway goals were a trend in the early minutes of the first, as Martone followed Zidlicky with a breakaway goal of his own. Jack Van Volsen sent a long pass to Martone, who waited just outside the Guelph blue line. Pushing past the Storm defender, Martone drove to the net before going through the legs to score the game’s second goal.
The Trout got their next goal on the power play after Quinn Beaucheshe’s five-minute major for a check to the head, and Charlie Paquette’s delay of game penalty sent the game to 5-on-3. Chase Lefebvre brought the lead to three with his first goal as a Steelhead.
Zidlicky started the play with a pass from the point down to Jakub Fibigr at the left faceoff dot. Fibigr sent a shot on goal, which was tipped into the net on the backhand by Lefebvre.
Looking to get the kids on their feet one last time for the period, Misa extended the Steelheads lead to four. Intercepting the puck off a Storm defender out front of Guelph’s net, Misa set up shop and fired the puck off the post and in.
While the Steelheads entered the second with four unanswered goals, the pace quickly shifted towards the Storm as they got themselves on the board midway through the period and switched goalies to Colin Ellsworth.
Hunter McKenzie got things going for the Storm after intercepting the puck in the Steelheads’ zone. Setting himself up for the shot, he fired on goal and scored the period’s only goal.
The remainder of the period seemed to shift towards the Storm as they built off the goal. Yet, it was no match for Ivankovic as he made 17 saves throughout the second to keep the Trout in the lead.
While the second period did not see too much action, the third was one to watch as the Storm attempted to battle back while the Steelheads extended their goal tally to seven.
Misa started the action within the first minute of the third as he got this second of the game. Carson Rehkopf took a shot on goal from the right side, which was blocked by Ellsworth. Picking up the rebound, Misa carried the puck out front around Ellsworth and shot it in the open net.
Still reeling from their goal in the second, the Storm attempted to even the score as they added three more goals to the board. Cam Allen got the first Storm goal of the period from the point after two Steelheads penalties sent the game to 5-on-3.
Paquette followed up Allen with an unassisted goal after catching a bad deflection of a Steelheads player in Brampton’s zone. Max Namestikov scored the Storm’s final goal after a series of passes, and clear attempts deflected to give him the open lane to score.
The comeback attempt was no match for the Steelheads as Martone and Zidlicky each added another goal to their totals. Rehkopf got his second game assist after he sent a pass from the Guelph blue line to Martone. With no defence covering him off, Martone sniped one on goal, sending it past Ellsworth.
Zidlicky got the Steelheads’ final goal off a 2-on-1 opportunity. Setting up the play at the Brampton blueline, Zidlicky carried it up the left side until he reached the offensive zone. Instead of passing it across, he took the shot and sent it bar down to secure the Steelheads’ 7-4 victory.
The Steelheads look to extend their win streak on Friday against the IceDogs in Niagara. Then, the Trout return home on Sunday for their annual Teddy Bear Toss. For tickets, click here.
