Ultimate Drivers Weekend Preview: The Dogs Are Back
Miracle on Main Street
The Steelheads return home for a special celebration this Friday. Miracle on Main Street raises funds for local families, charities, and school boards while bringing toys to children in local hospitals. There will be a toy drive at Friday’s game, and any fan who brings a toy to donate will receive a free ticket to a Steelheads game on December 11th! Family four packs are available for Friday’s game, which gives you four tickets, four drinks, and four bags of popcorn, plus 2 slush puppies for just $95. To find the Family four packs just click the filters tab on Ticketmaster.
Pucks N’ Paws
The weekend’s festivities continue on Sunday for Pucks N’ Paws against the Greyhounds. Make sure to bring your dog, as there will be vendors, giveaways, and treats on the concourse. During intermission, there will even be a dog race on the ice! Contestants can enter their dogs to compete for a chance to win an amazing doggy swag bag, proudly presented by Nimira Jiwa. You can purchase dog section tickets here.
Westbound Wednesday
The Steelheads have an early start to their weekend, as they travel southwest to face the Erie Otters (11-6-2-1) on Wednesday. The Trout have a flawless 5-0 record against the Otters since the start of last season. It will be the last time this season that Brampton will have to make the long commute to Erie, as the final two matchups will be at home.
Wednesday’s matchup will provide a glimpse into the future of hockey, with three players who were given an ‘A’ Grade, indicating a first-round talent, from NHL Central Scouting in Porter Martone (Brampton), Matthew Schaefer (Erie), and Malcolm Spence (Erie). It will be the first opportunity to see Martone and Schaefer face off this season, as they battle for the first overall selection in the NHL draft.
The Steelheads will look for another stellar performance from another top prospect in Jack Ivankovic, as they look to take down the Otters. Ivankovic was rewarded with the first star of the game in the first matchup of the series when he stopped 33 of 35 shots en route to a Brampton win. The Trout will look for their star goalie to shut down the surging Erie offense as they look to get back in the win Column.
It will be a star-studded matchup you will not want to miss, you can tune in to all road games at watch.chl.ca or listen on Sauga960.
Friday Night Lights
On Friday the Steelheads return home to the CAA Centre to host the Niagara IceDogs (13-7-0-0). Brampton swept the season series last year (6-0-0-0) against Niagara, before dropping the first game this year.
The key to beating the IceDogs will be shutting down their high-powered offense. Thankfully for the Trout, Niagara will be without their leading scorer Kevin He as a result of a two-game suspension. He recorded a total of six points (3G, 3A) in the first matchup of the season. Without their captain, the IceDogs will look for their youth to step up.
Brampton will look for their top line to lead the way as they aim to gain ground in the Central Division playoff race. With Niagara without their top scorer, the Steelheads will have the advantage in firepower. The dynamic duo of Porter Martone and Carson Rehkopf, combined with the resurgence of Luke Misa has formed one of the most dangerous lines in the entire CHL. A win against a division rival would help the Trout build momentum and confidence as they reclimb their way up the Eastern Conference standings.
It will be a celebration you will not want to miss, so make sure to grab you tickets here!
Soo-per Sunday
The Steelheads close out their weekend on Sunday as they host the Soo Greyhounds for Puck N’ Paws. It will be the first time the Trout and Hounds face off this season after they split the two-game series last year.
The Greyhounds have gone over a massive overhaul since the last time they faced the Steelheads, having lost six of their top ten leading scorers from last year. The new-look Soo offense is led by draft-eligible prospect Brady Martin. The second-year centerman has been on a tear to start the season, as he has tallied 19 points in 20 games, including his first OHL hat-trick last Wednesday.
The Trout will count on their depth to help lead the way against Sault Ste Marie. Last year Jack Van Volsen (2G, 2PTS, 1GP) and Adam Zidlicky (2G, 2A, 4PTS, 2GP) were key contributors against the Greyhounds. If they can keep playing to the same level they did against Soo last season, Brampton will be in a great position to take this season’s series.
It will be the only chance to see the Greyhounds this season, so secure your tickets here!
