That’s the Spirit : Trout defeat reigning CHL Champions
Saginaw, MI – The Steelheads kept the streak rolling, as they defeated the Saginaw Spirit 5-3. A strong performance in goal from Jack Ivankovic paved the way for the Trout.
It was a spirited start to the game as Porter Martone and Michael Misa got into it in the first minute. After being teammates earlier in the week, the pair showed that they are still competitors.
After taking turns of dumping and chasing, the Steelheads struck first. Carson Rehkopf forced a turnover in the corner before he quickly chipped a shot toward the goal. The shot stunned Saginaw goaltender Andrew Oke, and it squeaked between him and the post to give the Trout the icebreaker.
The Steelheads nearly doubled their lead when Luke Misa threw a shot on goal. The puck soared by Oke, but it deflected off the shin pad of Martone and bounced wide.
The opportunities amped up towards the end of the frame for the Spirit. Liam Storch snuck in close to the Brampton goal where he fired a shot on goal, but Jack Ivankovic held strong.
Saginaw answered back in the final minute of the frame. After an offensive zone faceoff, Josh Glavin unleashed a shot on goal. Glavin’s shot was blocked in traffic where Michael Misa picked up the loose puck and backhanded it by Ivankovic to tie the game.
Brampton had a chance to regain the lead when they went to the power play at the start of the second frame, but they were unable to capitalize on the man advantage.
The ice opened up in the second period when both teams were called for an infraction. The 4-on-4 action allowed more chances for both teams, but neither side was able to break through.
The Steelheads took the lead just under the halfway marker in the frame. Luke Misa rushed in on the net, but he had the puck knocked off his stick to the boards. Misa did not give up on the play though, as he batted the puck to the front of the net. Porter Martone cut to the slot and fired the puck into the net to put Brampton in front 2-1.
The Trout found themselves on the powerplay after a Spirit high stick, but it was Saginaw who controlled the play. PJ Forgione broke in on a three-on-one with Michael Misa and Krisitan Epperson. The latter of which received a pass from Forgione and fired a shot on goal. A mad scramble ensued, and Jack Ivankovic and Porter Martone combined to block four Spirit shots to preserve the lead.
Both teams came out flying to start the final frame, as the teams traded goals. First, it was the Steelheads who doubled the lead after an offensive zone turnover from the Spirit. Jakub Fibigr stripped Joey Willis at the line and broke in one a two-on-none rush with Adam Zidlicky. Fibigr looked shot before slipping a pass to his countryman. Zidlicky faked a shot on his forehand and quickly cut to his backhand to make it 3-1.
Just a few minutes later, Saginaw found themselves on the man-advantage, and they would not let the opportunity go to waste. Calem Mangone found rookie Dimian Zhilkin in the slot who one-timed it past a sprawled Ivankovic to cut the lead in half.
It did not take long for the Trout to restore the two-goal lead, as they scored just 21 seconds later. Gabe Chiarot got a stick on Jakub Fibigr’s point shot, and it sailed by Andrew Oke to put Brampton up 4-2.
As the clock ticked on, the Spirit mounted pressure as they looked to rally a comeback. Saginaw would break through with just over three minutes left to play. Kristian Epperson walked in and sniped a shot post and in to bring the Spirit within one.
Saginaw pulled the goalie in search of the equalizer. After the faceoff, Porter Martone found Carson Rehkopf who fired a shot from center ice into the empty cage to bring us to a final score of 5-3.
The Steelheads return home Wednesday afternoon to host the Guelph Storm in the annual school day game.
