BARRHEAD-The Barrhead Steelers will be moving on to the second round of the Alberta Northern Interlock (NAI) Hockey League U18 Tier 1-2 playoffs after defeating the Athabasca Hawks in two games.
Barrhead will face La Crete in the finals.
Regardless of the outcome of the NAI playoffs, all three teams will have a chance to play each other again as they all have qualified for the provincial championship tournament, which will be held in Calgary.
The NAI has earned an extra-provincial wildcard berth, and La Crete while playing the bulk of its games in the NAI, will represent the All Peace Hockey League (APHL).
On Friday, Feb. 25, at home, Barrhead easily defeated Athabasca 8-1 at home and outshooting them 64-13.
After one period of play, the Steelers held a modest 2-1 lead thanks to goals by JW Loughran (assists by Axton McCallum and Kolby Miller) and Tray Pruess (assisted by Carter Greilach).
In the second period, Barrhead added to their lead with goals by Luke Politeski (assisted by Greilach and Van Werenka), Owen Stoik (assisted by Loughran and Miller), Eric McLean (assisted by Riley Harrison and David Tyrrell) and Kyler Rentz (assisted by Tyrrell and Politeski).
In the third period, the Steelers closed out their scoring with goals by Tyrrell (assisted by McLean and Rentz) and Miller (assisted by Harrison and Rentz). Luke Kristiansen got the start in goal, earning the win.
In the second game in Athabasca on Feb. 27, the Steelers had a more difficult time as they eked their way to a 4-2 victory.
Athabasca got off to a strong start, scoring the first two goals of the game, the first at about the 14-minute mark of the first period, and the second in the first two minutes of the second period.
However, before the end of the period with about five minutes left a goal Tyrrell (assisted by McLean and Rentz) narrowed the Hawks’ lead. About two minutes later, Rentz (assisted by Tyrell and Axom McCallum) tied the game.
In the third period, Rentz scored, what would turn out to be the game-winner, an unassisted marker at about the six and a half minute mark. About six minutes later, Preuss (assisted by Werenka) added the insurance goal. Ethan Dezaeyer stopped 17 out of 19 shots for the win.
Head coach Dylan Stoik and former Steeler player said after Friday’s home game that the team is starting to find its stride.
"Overall, we've had a good season," he said, noting the Steelers finished in second place in Tier 1-2 Division. "We had a bit of a lull midway through the season and finished strong, and that carried over to tonight. As you saw, we played a strong complete game."
For a while, midway to late in the second period, it looked like the game had the potential of getting out of hand, as Athabasca started to take some liberties after the play, but Stoik credited the officials for keeping things in check.
Going into the finals, Stoik said the Steelers should have their full roster noting going into the Athabasca series, they were down one skater due to illness, but he should be ready to go for the finals, as should Tray Preuss.
"Tray had some bad luck. He took three shots off his feet and is a little banged up, but he will be ready to go," Stoik said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
