OHL Brampton Steelheads

Shorthanded Steelheads Stopped by Petes

Published on October 30, 2014 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brampton Steelheads News Release


MISSISSAUGA, ON - With a multitude of situations pulling players off of the roster, a shorthanded Steelheads team made the trip to Peterborough on Thursday evening for their first of three games in four days. With Jared Walsh, Sean Day, Mike McLeod, Bobby MacIntyre, Cody Thompson and Stefan LeBlanc out of the lineup, the Steelheads looked to pick up points in their third straight game.

Opportunities were fast and furious to open the first period, as the teams exchanged chances right off the opening draw. It was not long before the scorers had something to report, however it was on the home side of the sheet. Greg Betzold would bury his sixth of the season at 2:18 of the period, jumping on a loose puck after a giveaway in front of Spencer Martin. Peterborough built on the early marker, sustaining pressure in the Mississauga zone, but with a great pushback led by Adam Donnelly and a strong forecheck, the Trout would force their way back into the play. The Steelheads found themselves with a chance to tie the game after Nick Ritchie was sent to the box for a two-handed slash, and would generate a ton of pressure on the newest member of the Petes, Matthew Mancina. Unfortunately the former OHL Champion (Guelph, 2013) would turn away a number of opportunities to keep the Petes ahead. Despite a few late chances in the period, the Petes escaped the opening frame with a lead on both the score board and the shot clock.

"Just get shots on net" - Brandon Devlin, on what the Steelheads needed to do in the second period

Heeding the advice of Devlin, the former Peterborough Pete, Mississauga jumped out onto the attack early in the second period. Just four minutes into the frame, the Steelheads would find an equalizer off the stick of Marcus Dickerson. Playing in his fourth game for the Trout, Dickerson found himself on the receiving end of a beautiful play by Nathan Bastian to draw two defenders, and Mancina out of the Petes net. Damian Bourne also picked up an assist on Dickerson's first career goal, leaving Damian just a goal away from a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" after his first period fight victory. With momentum on their side, the Trout headed to their second man advantage of the game two minutes later. Lucas Venuto nearly gave the team the lead, however a bullet off of the post would keep the game all square. The Petes would turn back on to the attack in the latter half of the period, with two power play opportunities of their own. Despite a number of strong defensive plays on the penalty kill, the highlight of the night came towards the end of the second power play. Looking down and out, with Peterborough staring at an empty cage, Spencer Martin would show great lateral movement to get a pad out, robbing the Petes of a sure goal. "Marty" followed the save up with another big save on the Anaheim-drafted Ritchie, closing the period out with a 1-1 tie intact.

With Martin stealing the show in the second period, Mancina looked to respond in the third. He did so early, as the Steelheads found themselves with a great opportunity after Venuto rang his second post of the game. With some combination of luck and skill, the Steelheads were unfortunately turned away by a great behind-the-back glove save by Mancina, keeping the game tied at 1. Betzold would take advantage of the momentum shift, potting his second of the game with a shot just below the blocker of Martin two minutes in to the period. He completed the hat trick eight minutes later, stretching the Petes' lead to two goals. After killing off their third disadvantage of the game, the Steelheads would find themselves scrambling for a goal late in the game. After a James Boyd timeout sent the Steelheads back out with an extra attacker, the Trout found their best chance of the third period. Unfortunately, the Steelheads would ring their third post of the game, and the Petes would capitalize with an empty net marker. With nothing left to do but drop the gloves, Everett Clark and Cameron Lizotte battled to a hard-earned draw as time ran out in the game.

Spencer Martin made 32 saves en route to being named second star in the losing effort.

UP NEXT

The Steelheads return to action tomorrow night at the Hershey Centre, as they host the North Bay Battalion in the HERSHEY'S HALLOWEEN GAME! Keep your costume on after you trick-or-treat and you'll be entered to win some great prizes! Also, kids can trick-or-treat in the Hershey Centre concourse! Great seats are still available for tomorrow night's game, as well as Sunday's divisional matchup against the Niagara IceDogs!

Get your tickets online and print them at home to beat the Hershey Centre lines! To purchase your tickets, log on to Ticketmaster!

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2014


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