Ultimate Drivers Weekend Preview: Back from the break
After a short Christmas break, the Brampton Steelheads (14-14-4-0) return to action this Saturday to host the Ottawa 67s (13-12-2-5). It will be the third matchup of the season, with the teams splitting the prior two. Both teams enter the weekend in similar positions, as they sit just one-point apart in the league standings. Securing a regulation win would be huge for both sides as they look to try and build into the new year.
Marriott and Marriott Bonvoy. Attendees have a chance to win a $250 Delta Hotels gift card.
The Trout will be gaining some extra reinforcement on Saturday, with Vilmer Alriksson making his Steelheads debut. The towering Swedish forward recorded 23 points (11G, 12A) in just 26 games this season with Guelph before being acquired by Brampton. The Trout will look for Alriksson to help spark an offence that is still without Porter Martone and Carson Rehkopf.
Special teams will be key in Saturday’s matchup. The 67s have been one of the most polarizing clubs in the league for special teams. On the power play they sit first place league-wide with a whopping 30.5% success rate, but on the penalty kill they sit dead last with a 66.4% kill rate. Because of this, staying disciplined will be a point of focus for the Steelheads in order to stay on the right side of special teams. Thankfully for the Trout, Ottawa will be without its power play trigger man Luca Pinelli to the World Junior Championship. The 67s captain tallied a league leading 11 power play goals before departing for Selection Camp. The Steelheads will also be hoping for a jump in their own power play with the addition of Alriksson. The aforementioned Swedish power forward’s net front expertise has earned him five power play goals, which would sit first on the Steelheads. If he can bring the same touch around the net that he showed in Guelph, the Trout’s power play should make its way up the league rankings.
It will be a matchup that you will not want to miss, so grab your tickets here!
