The Barrhead Steelers scored early and often to defeat the Jasper Bearcats in regular season midget 9 to 1 in front of their home fans at the Barrhead Agrena on Friday, Jan. 29.
Koby Adams opened the scoring for Barrhead just 23 seconds into the game on the Steelers’ first shot on net. Six and a half-minutes later the Steelers extended their lead by scoring two goals in a 20 second span. The first by Adams and the other by Tanner Whiting on just the Steelers’ fifth shot of the period.
At the end of the period the Steelers led the Bearcats by a score of 3 to 0 and they outshot Jasper 16 to 9.
In the second period the Steelers once again got off to a quick start, scoring their fourth goal by Robert Geis less than two minutes into the period.
At about the five minute mark Brad Bujold scored the Steelers fifth goal, although at the time it wasn’t added to the scoreboard. Nor was Adams third goal of the game, which increased Barrhead’s lead to six.
Jasper finally got onto the scoreboard at the 17:30 mark while on a power play after the Steelers took a penalty for boarding. At the end of the second period the Steelers led 6 to 1 and outshot Jasper 27 to 17.
During the second intermission it was discovered Barrhead’s last two goals were intentionally left off the scoreboard by off ice officials for players safety. They said if the score on the scoreboard was too lopsided it might make the teams be more inclined to take liberties in what was already a physical and chippy game.
By the end of the second period the Steelers had been called for five infractions including boarding, cross-checking, roughing and unsportmanlike conduct. Similarly the Bearcats received six penalties, including violations for slashing, cross-checking and a game misconduct.
The goals were added to the scoreboard early in the third period, and once again the Steelers got off to a strong start.
At about the four-and-a-half minute mark the Steelers took advantage of a clearly tired Bearcats team, scoring their seventh goal by Zach Laun. Jasper started the game with 11 players compared to Barrhead’s 16. By the third period the Bearcats were down to eight skaters.
Near the end of the game the Steelers scored two more goals on efforts from Adams and Danny Dekker.
The shot totals at the end of the game were 50 to 20 in favour of Barrhead. Goaltender Logan Branden earned the win.
