Surprise Attack
Brampton, ON – After a strong start from the Steelheads, the Owen Sound Attack stormed back to win the game in overtime.
The first quality chance of the game came at the 16-minute mark when the Attack broke in on a two-on-one. Tristan Delisle carried over the blue line where he ripped a shot just wide of the Steelheads’ goal.
The Steelheads controlled play in the ensuing minutes, but Owen Sound found another quality chance. Alec Leonard walked the blue line before slinging a shot-pass to the slot. Jake Crawford redirected the overager’s pass, but it sailed wide.
Kieran Witkowski came close to a breakaway when he sprung down the left wing. Witkowski cut past Braedyn Rogers, but the Attack defender dove back to knock the puck away.
The Steelheads kept the pressure up when Carson Rehkopf deked through the Attack defence before wiring a shot on goal, but his bid was denied by Carter George.
Brampton had a chance to open the scoring when Easton Mikus was called for a high stick. On the man advantage, Carson Rehkopf worked in from the left-wing side where he snapped a pass to Spencer Sova in the slot. The overager fired a shot on net, but it was snared by the glove of George.
With just under six minutes to play in the opening frame, the Trout found the icebreaker. As Carson Rehkopf burst through the neutral zone, he received a breakout pass in stride. The Seattle Kraken prospect danced around David Bedkowski at the Attack line, allowing him to break in goal. The Razer cut to the backhand where he chipped it by George to put the Steelheads in front.
Owen Sound had a glorious chance to even the scoring when they broke in on a three-on-one. Bruce McDonald flew down the wing before sending a pass across for Landon Hookey. With Stevie Leskovar in the lane, the Attack Captain was unable to get a good look, as it was easily turned aside by Jack Ivankovic.
The Steelheads nearly doubled their lead when Lucas Karmiris snuck in on a breakaway.The draft-eligible forward dusted off the puck before snapping a shot on goal, but it was turned away by George.
Both teams exchanged chances at the start of the second period. First, Porter Martone came inches from finding Vilmer Alriksson on the back door, but his pass bounced just over the import’s stick. Then Masen Wray broke down the left wing before snapping a shot just over the Steelheads’ net.
Just under two minutes into the second period, the Steelheads extended their lead. Mason Zebeski cut down the wing, where he chipped a pass to the netfront. George tried to poke the puck to the corner, but Carson Rehkopf beat him to it. Rehkopf’s poke slid by the pad of George to double the lead.
With just over seven minutes to play, the Attack got on the board on a pretty passing play. Declan Waddick sent a feed down low to Bruce McDonald. The veteran returned the pass to the slot for Gabriel Smith who buried it in the empty cage. Smith’s first OHL goal cut the Trout lead to 2-1.
Just two minutes later, Owen Sound headed to the power play with a chance to tie the game, but it was the Steelheads who found the scoresheet. When the Brampton clearing attempt dribbled into the Attack zone, Lucas Karmiris and Carter George raced to the loose puck. Karmiris dove head first, and poked the puck by George. While still sliding on his knees, Karmiris batted the puck into the open net to restore the two-goal lead.
The Attack tried to answer back when they went to another power play. On the mad advantage, Michael Dec sent a cross-ice feed for Pierce Mbuyi who wired a shot on net, but Ivankovic slid across to keep it out.
Owen Sound took a penalty at the end of the second period, so the Trout started the final frame on the man advantage. Both units were able to get set up, but neither could capitalize.
Just after the power play, the Steelheads would strike. Aidan Lane walked into the zone and fired a shot off the pad of Carter George. The rebound bounced to the slot where Angus MacDonell unleashed a howitzer bardown to make it 4-1 Steelheads.
The Attack battled back though, as a pair of rookies combined to bring them within two. Following a collision between Leskovar and Lane, Owen Sound burst in on a two-on-one. Michael Dec slid a pass cross-ice for Pierce Mbuyi who made no mistake, tapping the puck past Ivankovic.
Just under two minutes later, Landon Hookey cut the Trout lead in half. The Attack captain caught a pass behind him and pulled between his legs before wiring one past Ivankovic to make it 4-3.
When the Steelheads went to the power play with six minutes left, Owen Sound nearly found a short handed goal of their own. Jack Ivankovic went out to play the puck but it took a weird hop into his skates. Bruce McDonald stole the loose puck and tried to jam it home, but Parker Von Richter did his best goalie impression to keep the Trout in front.
In the final minute, the Attack pressed to tie the game. Pierce Mbuyi battled hard on the forecheck, stealing the puck from Jack Ivankovic behind the net. The rookie centered the puck for Michael Dec whose shot beat Ivankovic to the goal to force overtime.
In the extra frame, the Steelheads were called for a penalty, sending Owen Sound to a four-on-three power play. On the man advantage, Pierce Mbuyi found Landon Hookey on the backdoor who roofed it on Ivankovic. The Attack’s new captain capped off a three-goal third-period comeback.
The Steelheads are back in action tomorrow night for their New School Night!
