SmartStop Post-Game Recap – Even Atop the East
MISSISSAUGA, ON – First place going into the holiday break? Not bad for one of the youngest teams in the OHL.
In a battle between the top two teams in the East, Jack Ivankovic made 35 dazzling saves to give the Mississauga Steelheads a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa 67’s, and now sit tied atop the Eastern Conference standings heading into the 11 day layoff.
The Steelheads came into the season full of optimism, although understanding that there were going to be growing pains. Every young team goes through it, but if you told them back in September they’d be tied for top spot in the East going into the mid-season break, they might not have believed you.
Yet here they are, led by players like Luke Misa (2024 NHL draft prospect), Porter Martone (2025 NHL draft prospect), and their pair of goalies – one of whom is eligible for the upcoming NHL draft, and the other not eligible until 2025.
The way they went into the break is emblematic of why everybody should believe in this team going into the second half of the year. Starting the game with 10 forwards and finishing with nine, while also playing the last 15 minutes with 5 defenseman and a rookie goaltender in net? Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but not for this team.
They did everything you’d expect a mature group to do. Throwing their bodies in front of pucks, managing the game, clearing traffic, not allowing second chances. They were rewarded as they should’ve been, with a big victory over a very tough opponent.
There was nothing to really talk about through the first 30 minutes besides a couple of Ottawa power plays that the home side was able to kill off, but when the 67’s took their first penalty the Steelheads took advantage.
Following a big hit courtesy of Angus MacDonell, Brad Gardiner went off for cross checking after he tried to stand up for his teammate. He probably regrets it though, as Van Volsen one-timed a beautiful cross ice feed from Veccia to put his team up 1-0.
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and Mississauga received some good fortune a few moments after their opening goal when Zebeski tried to center the puck, but it deflected off a defenseman in front and past Collin MacKenzie to extend the lead to 2-0.
A chippy game became even chippier with 14:20 to go in the third when Cooper Foster was given a five-minute major for a brutal hit in open ice, making contact with MacDonell’s head. This spurred a spirited fight from rookie Will Haley, who left to a loud applause from the crowd and high fives from all of his teammates.
The 67’s were able to kill off the penalty and gained momentum, which culminated with 6:58 left in regulation when Charlie Hilton picked up a rebound with Ivankovic out of the net and slid it across the line to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Ottawa continued to pile on the pressure with the net empty, but Ivankovic stood tall and Veccia picked the defenseman’s pocket and put the game away, making the final 3-1.
There is plenty of season left with 37 games remaining, but Mississauga has put the OHL on notice, and there’s no reason to believe they’re stopping anytime soon.
Total Shots – 36 OTT / 28 MISS
Three Stars:
- Jack Ivankovic (35 SV, 1GA)
- Zander Veccia (1G, 1A)
- Mason Zebeski (1G)
The Steelheads return after the break with a matchup against the Windsor Spitfires on December 28th. Buy your tickets here.
