SmartStop Post-Game Recap – Leenders Steals the Show
KINGSTON, ON – Ryerson Leenders’ third shutout of the season propels the Mississauga Steelheads to their first victory in 2024, a 3-0 win over the Kingston Frontenacs Friday night at Leon’s Centre.
The Nanticoke native was phenomenal all night, turning aside all 29 shots he faced, and his improvement from last year cannot be overstated. Last season he posted a 0.879 save percentage over 35 games with zero shutouts. This campaign? He has a 0.913 (second best in the OHL) and three clean sheets.
Offensively it was Jack Van Volsen who did the heavy lifting, scoring a pair. Mason Zebeski and Luke Misa also found the net, who are now tied for second on the team in goals.
The Trout wasted little time getting their new year off on the right foot, as just four minutes into the night Marc Boudreau took the puck hard to the net off the rush. His shot was stopped by Mason Vaccari, but Van Volsen was right on the doorstep to bury the rebound and give his side an early lead.
It took them even less time to extend their advantage, once again causing havoc in front of the Kingston net. Vaccari thought he had the puck covered with three white jerseys around him, but he thought wrong.
Zebeski located the loose puck and put it past the goaltender for his 14th of the year, making it a 2-0 game. Mississauga was up two before the Fronts even recorded a shot on goal.
Kingston found their game after the second goal and started to build some momentum through the rest of the period and first half of the second, but that momentum was stalled when Cal Uens took his second penalty of the frame.
Mississauga’s power play showed why they have the second best power play in the Eastern Conference, as Van Volsen wired a wrist shot into the top corner for his second of the game to give them a three goal lead. The goal gave the Peterborough native a new career high for goals in a season, surpassing his total of seven from last year.
The Fronts did everything they could to get back in it, having a few high danger chances throughout the last 30 minutes, but Leenders was unbeatable in this one, highlighted by a huge save midway through the third where he stretched all the way across the line to take away a wraparound opportunity.
With the Kingston net empty Misa put the game away, firing a shot from the blue line into the yawning cage to make it a 4-0 final. His two point night makes him the first Steelhead to reach 50 on the season.
The Steelheads have won all three games between these two clubs, and also snapped Kingston’s four game win streak in the process. They meet for the final time on February 17th back in Mississauga.
Total Shots – 34 MISS / 29 KGN
Three Stars:
- Jack Van Volsen (2G)
- Luke Misa (1G, 1A)
- Ryerson Leenders (29 Save Shutout)
The Steelheads return home Saturday afternoon for a 4:00pm contest against the London Knights. Buy your tickets for the game here.
