With Keean Washkurak out of the lineup and Ryan Callaghan having scored his first OHL goal, the Mississauga Steelheads couldn’t get it going on Thursday as they fell 5-4 to Jean-Luc Foudy and the Windsor Spitfires. However, with a game on Friday night, James Richmond’s club looked to get back in the win column.
Starting for the host team Steelheads was 19-year-old goaltender Kai Edmonds who went up against 18-year-old Jet Greaves on Friday night at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre. Earlier in the week, Thomas Harley returned after having been cut from Team Canada’s roster. Harley was one of 34 who were invited to World Juniors selection camp.
As the game got underway at Paramount Fine Foods Centre on Friday night, the Colts would win the first draw, immediately sending the puck down the ice towards Kai Edmonds in net for the Steelheads.
Up along the boards on the right side in their own zone, Thomas Harley would retrieve the puck and send it across towards Liam Ham. After sending it up towards Jet Greaves in the crease, the game would be called for its first stoppage of play.
Mississauga, just getting started, would set up again fun the opposing zone, but with Greaves holding steady early on, the plays would be paused once again. From the right-side face-off dot, Mississauga would win the draw, though Nick Suzuki, along the boards, would snag the puck and shoot it down Edmonds. With the intensity just getting started, the Steelheads would convert the play out and around as the battle continued with much speed early on before being called again four minutes in.
As the play in their own zone resumed, Ole Bjorgvik-Holm would rush up with the puck towards Barrie before passing it out from the left-side dot to Michael Stubbs who would dish it to Nicholas Canade who could not get a stick on it. In an attempt to score the game’s first goal, this would result in a stoppage of play.
From the left-side dot in the Barrie Colts zone, it would be the Steelheads winning the draw which would send Chas Sharpe down the ice with the puck before unloading nearby to Duncan Penman who would send it back up.
With Matthew Stridl being called for hooking, this would give Mississauga their first power play of the night. The face-off would be drawn from the right-side dot in the Barrie Colts zone, but very quickly called down on a whistle before doing so again just a moment later. This would see the puck sent down the ie behind Kai Edmonds and the net before being retrieved by Bjorgvik-Holm who would pass the puck beside him to Aidan Prueter. While unable to find a hole further up, this would send the plays back to the Steelheads zone.
After Barrie converted on the play, Stredl would rush up towards Edmonds and unleash a shot, though high and wide of the net. This would then pave the way for Nicholas Canade to open the scoring as he retrieved the puck from Bjorgvik-Holm who would rush up the ice and the bank the puck by Greaves. For Canade, it would be his fifth scored 6:51 into the opening frame.
Once the play resumed, It would see the Colts tighten up early on, this seeing Del Mastro rush the puck down the ice, but interfered with on a pass to Lemieux near the Steelheads net. That would give Mississauga a little bit of headroom to continue working with, though the play would be whistled down with 10:09 left on the clock in the first.
With Canade just starting his night, he would rush into the Colts zone again, this time cutting through two defenders en route to another potential scoring chance for Mississauga to double their 1-0 lead. This would see the play be brought to a stop with 9:26 left.
Again, as the game game picked up, it would see Kai Edmonds face a pair of tricky shots, but able to keep the puck out of the net with a two-minute penalty now in effect for Mississauga. Now from the Barrie Colts zone, Ryan Suzuki would hold the puck by the blue line before passing it off towards Jason Wilms who would lose the puck as the Steelheads converted.
With Barrie giving it their all, Brandt Clarke would dangle the puck near Kai Edmonds, this coming before passing it across to Ryan Del Monte, this once again causing a stoppage of play.
With 7:00 minutes now left in the frame, Duncan Penman would shoot the puck up the right side, though it would be called for icing and stopping the play. This would see a face-off be taking place from the Steelheads left-side dot, this sending Mississauga’s defence rush up the ice, but the play being halted with 6:00 minutes to play.
This would see the Steelheads get their second power play of the night as Tyson Forester was called for high-sticking with just over five minutes left to play in the first. It wouldn’t take long for Mississauga to find their way back onto the scoreboard as Thomas Harley would pass it from the blue line to left-winger James Hardie who would bank it past Greaves. For Hardie, it would be his thirteenth goal of the regular season with a secondary assist on the play from Cole Schwindt.
Now from behind Kai Edmonds, the Steelheads defence would break out once again before taking the puck up the ice towards Greaves, though the play would be whistled down on the way with 3:42 to play. This would see the Colts now invading Kai Edmonds and the Mississauga zone, though it would quickly be brought to a halt as Del Monte would exit with an injury to the face.
As the centreman was sent down the tunnel, the play would continue on the ice for the Colts which would see the Steelheads offence pick up from their last goal with Thomas Harley now battling for the puck. With 1:41 to play, Calvin Martin would grab the puck from their own zone before sending it across the ice where it would become loose before being picked up by Matthew Stredl.
With a last minute attempt to tie the game, Brandt Clark would backhand a shot to Edmonds, but stopped and sent back into play which would see the Steelheads be awarded the power play. With the one-man advantage on a slashing call, Ryan Suzuki would quickly convert, being last to handle the puck as the first twenty minutes of play concluded.
As the second period got underway, it would see Richard Whittaker square off against Whilms with Mississauga still on the power play for :58 seconds as the frame opened up. From the blue line in Steelheads zone, Clarke would sent the puck up to Suzuki who would send a laser in the direction of Kai Edmonds but stopped and blocked before being sent back into play.
As the play was then converted on, Riley Piercey, from nearby the net, would send the puck down to Matthew Hill who would send it back up the other way to Christopher Cameron who would take another shot on Edmonds, but stopped and saved.
Coming up from the Barrie Colts zone, Riley Piercey would rush up the ice, but lose the puck amongst traffic at centre ice, this forcing the Colts up the ice once again. As the shots continued to pile, the Steelheads defence tightened up as well, but not before a Brandt Clark sequence, passing the puck to Ryan Suzuki who would lose it nearby the benches.
After a dangerous hit to the boards as Mississauga looked to get things going, Nicholas Canade would get into a scuffle brought on at centre ice by centreman Luke Bignell. However, for his lack of a role in the altercation, Mississauga would be given the power play, their fourth advantage of the evening. Both players, however, would be given five minutes each for roughing.
After rushing back up the ice with the puck towards Kai Edmonds, Jason Whilms would get into a scuffle of his own from behind the opposing net. This would stop the play with 15:52 led to play in the frame. Additionally, that would give Mississauga another power play and a four-on-three.
With Nicholas Canade now back in the game, Cole Schwindt would be sent off the ice for two minutes for roughing. This would also see Mississauga with a penalty, though, not showing any weakness on the ice despite being down one. Thomas Harley would take a shot on Greaves, but unable to poke it through which would have the puck sent down towards Kai Edmonds. From this point, Harley would rush down with the puck from his team’s own zone before unloading to Calvin Martin. Martin would then find the mesh and give the hometown Steelheads a 2-0 lead.
After a quick break to review the goal, it would reveal a different result with Thomas Harley being awarded the goal, his fourteenth of the season on assists from Calvin Martin and backstop Kai Edmonds.
As the play resumed with 14:15 left on the clock, it would see Thomas Harley and Nick Isaacson chasing the puck behind Edmonds and the net, but Isaacson the one sending it down where Richard Whittaker would retrieve it with a shot on Greaves, but missing. From the blue line, Ethan Del Mastro would retrieve it, sending the puck alongside him to Liam Ham. Ham, looking for a goal of his own, would shoot it through traffic, but not done successfully as the play was halted.
With Barrie now looking to get on the board, they would manage to do just that as Matthew Sredl would poke the puck past Edmonds, his first of the season to put the Colts within a goal of the hometown Steelheads. Assists on the play would come from Aidan Brown and Ian Lemieux.
Once the play resumed, Whilms would face off against Cole Schwindt, the Steelheads winning the draw as 88 retrieved the puck coming back from the face-off dot, but converted on by defensemen Jack York. After a pair of shots on Jet Greaves, Mississauga, now defending their zone, would look to keep the score 2-0 over Barrie, protecting Kai Edmonds on a rush from the Colts.
After a shot break with 9:26 left, the Barrie Colts would receive a penalty as Tyson Forester was removed from the game while being charged with a 10-minute game misconduct. With Mississauga now on the penalty and 9:04 left to play, Duncan Penman would be sent off for slashing.
Jack York, from in front of the blue line, would now be looking to get something done which would see the defensemen converting in the Barrie Colts zone before rushing back up the ice towards Kai Edmonds. The play would then be stopped with 8:22 left on the clock.
The Steelheads, looking to battle, would send the puck down into the Barrie Colts zone which would see Nicholas Canade along the board fighting for the puck, but this once again halting play with 7:53 left to play in the second. This would result in a centre ice face-off, though once again whistled down moments later.
With William Portokalis now putting pressure on the Barrie Colts defence back in their own zone it would force the puck out from their end with Mississauga converting to add to their lead. After a rush up the ice towards Edmonds, the play would be whistled down with 6:44 remaining.
Ty collins, from along the boards, would send the puck down the ice towards Greaves, but not before passing to Canada who would miss on the pass before Barrie retrieved the puck at centre ice and converted. However, after a stop made by Kai Edmonds, Canada would take another shot on Jet Greaves, but go wide of the net.
After another quick shot taken on Greaves, the play would be whistled down with 5:27 left to play. This would then see Mississauga rush up the ice once again to the Colts zone, but with Nathan Allensen and the defence protecting the net, it would result in a dog pile in the crease, stopping play.
After a face-off from the Colts right-side dot, the play would be stopped and whistled down once again. However, after Cole Schwindt won the face-off in the visitors end, James Hardie would snag the puck and take a shot just over Greaves’ shoulder, but missing the net.
With 4:09 left to play and the aggressiveness not settling down, Aidan Brown would shove Schwindt into the boards, this allowing the Colts to convert on the play. however, after proving unable to do so, it would see the play whistled down once again with 3:30 to play.
Out front of the Barrie Colts crease, Ty Collins, now looking for more, would net his second of the game past Greaves, this being his seventh goal of the regular season. While also his third point of the night with 3:06 left on the clock, assists on the play would be contributed by Richard Whittaker and Thomas Harley. This would give Mississauga a 4-1 lead over Barrie.
A minute later, with that energy still brewing for the hometown Steelheads, Richard Whittaker would take matters into his own hands with a goal of his own, his eleventh of the season. This would give Mississauga a 5-1 lead over Barrie.
With a four-goal lead on the Colts, Mississauga would be awarded the power play, this being their fifth of the night with 2:15 left to play in the frame. Just 23 seconds into the power play, Harley would net his second of the game, his fifteenth goal of the regular season to give Mississauga a 6-1 lead. Liam Ham would be awarded an assist with 1:36 left to play in the frame. After back-and-forth play in the final minute, the second period would be brought to a close.
The Steelheads would enter the third with a five-goal lead over the visiting Colts, looking to do more damage on home ice before taking their talents back home for the holidays. That being said, as the face-off was dropped from the centre ice dot, the Barrie Colts would win the draw, quickly rushing into Mississauga’s zone, though the Steelheads would convert and send the puck the other way just one minute in.
However, this would see the play whistled down and the face-off taken from Barrie’s right-side dot. From back in their own end, Richard Whittaker would send it up from the boards, but unable to complete the pass up the ice, this allowing the Colts to convert. With the play back in their own zone, the play would be whistled down once again a moment later.
After an air shot from the Steelheads blue line, Calvin Martin would deflect the shot and get the puck back into Mississauga possession before rushing it back up. Now up along the boards, Cole Schwindt would battle to keep possession and successfully poke it up the ice to Nicholas Canade. After an attempt on a shot from Ty Collins, the Colts would turn it around to KaI Edmonds remaining steady in net with the five-goal lead.
This would see a face-off from Mississauga’s zone just five minutes in. Allenson, defending Barrie’s net, would lose the puck up nearby the crease, this allowing the Steelheads a chance to increase their lead, but Hardie going wide and missing.
After a bout back in their own zone, Mississauga would convert and get the puck out, this allowing them time to pass the puck down and around before Hardie sent it back up to Jet Greaves along the boards, though it wouldn’t last long.
As Aidan Brown attempted a shot, he would send the puck down to Nathan Allenson who would take it closer in on Kai Edmonds, but quickly losing his path to shoot from before Mississauga turned the play back around.
As such, this saw Bjorgvik-Holm take full advantage of empty Barrie zone, easily sending the puck to the mesh by Jet Greaves, this giving the Steelheads a 7-1 lead. For Bjorgvik-Holm, it would be his first career OHL goals with assists from Ty Collins and Nicholas Canade.
A moment later, Mississauga returned with a fiery energy and intent to do more, this seeing Max Dodig being added to the scoreboard with what would be his third goal of the season. The goal, at 9:11, would be contributed to by Duncan Penman.
This would keep things quiet with Barrie looking to better hold their ground, this coming before the ice was cleared for a quick timeout with 9:57 left to play. From the left-side face-off in Mississauga’s zone, the Steelheads would quickly pounce on the puck, but not before another stoppage of play.
With 9:11 on the clock, both teams would be called on a penalty with Nick Isaacson and Nathan Allenson both sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. This would bring the play to four-on-four with 8:40 left remaining.
With a Steelheads penalty now running, Ryan Suzuki would look to jump on it, taking a shot from in front of the blue line, but being stopped by goaltender Kai Edmonds. With another attempt, he would look for help from Aidan Brown, who alike Suzuki, would miss, keeping the Colts trailing by seven.
With the four-on-four still going, Dvurechenskii would find an open path, poking the puck by Edmonds in the Mississauga net to bring Barrie within one of Mississauga. For Dvurechenskii, the goal would be his first of the regular season on an assist from Ryan Suzuki.
The game would then resume with 6:39 left to play in the game, this seeing a whistle stopping play in the Barrie zone and a face-off to follow from the left-side face-off dot. That would see Ian Lemieux send the puck to centre ice, but interfered with by Richard Whittaker before losing it back in his own zone.
Once back up the ice and at the boards in the Barrie Colts zone, Luca Del Be Belluz would fight for the puck before sending it down and around the boards. However, this would bring out the team’s defence with Brandt Clark coming close to what would be his eleventh of the season.
With 4:20 left on the clock, Charlie Callaghan would fight for the puck, but after a minute of the puck being held, the play at the boards would quickly be whistled down. This would also see a bench change before Cole Scwindt attempted to take a shot on Greaves. Schwindt would then find himself behind Jet Greaves and the net where he would find Nicholas Canade in front of the crease, but the left-winger unable to make anything come of it.
After the play was turned around on Edmonds, the game would once again come to a halt. With 2:25 left to play, Ryan Suzuki would rush up to Edmonds, seeking help from Brandt Clark on the side who would miss.
This would then see an altercation break out at the boards in the Barrie Colts zone with 1:57 remaining. With just under two left to play, both sides would be called for a penalty as Matthew Stredl was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and Richard Whittaker being sent for crosschecking.
From the Steelheads right-side dot and 1:25 left to play in the game, Nicholas Canade would chase the puck down the ice from the Barrie Colts zone before being stopped and 1:02 left to play. In the final minute, Portokalis would execute a pass to Sharpe who would be able to do anything with it, but Mississauga converting back in their own zone. A short time after, Luke Bignell would retrieve it and rush the puck down to Edmonds but go wide with 20.0 seconds left.
After a scuffle along the boards, Luke Bignell would be awarded a penalty shot, coming close to the net on Kai Edmonds who would easily make the stop for the Steelheads. Bignell would then be called for unsportsmanlike conduct and sent to the penalty box.
This would give Mississauga their final power play to close out the evening, with William Portokalis leading that charge, taking one last shot on Greaves, but missing. As the game’s final seconds died down, the puck would be sent back into play, but not enough for the Barrie Colts who would fall by an 8-2 final score on Friday.
After the game, The Puck Authority spoke with Syracuse native Thomas Harley who said when asked about his team’s effort en route to the victory on home ice over Barrie, “You know, going into the break, it’s always tough to stay focused, so we came out, we played a team game, I think it showed out there on the ice. We got a couple bounces tonight, you know, a couple goals going off them, so it’s always fun to get some puck luck defence from the boys.”
Harley finished the game with two goals scored and two assists and when he was asked about the four days spent alongside 34 other youth hopefuls, he said, “Yeah, so that was a real competitive camp, lots of good players out there, so, you know, obviously it didn’t go the way I wanted it to, you know, I’m back here with the boys here in Mississauga, so it’s always fun being back here and, you know, we strung together a couple wins, it boils back, so it’s good.”
The Steelheads, after Friday’s game, are off until Saturday December 28th when they take on the Kingston Frontenacs in a matinee at 2:00pmET. The game is available for viewing via live stream on OHL Live, meanwhile, it can be heard on Sauga 960 AM.