The Selkirk Steelers were a goal short on two occasions last week against two of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s best clubs.
On Tuesday, an overtime battle with the Steinbach Pistons went in Steinbach’s favour a minute and a half into the sudden death frame after MJHL leading scorer Connor Paronuzzi scored for the Pistons.
The Steelers opened the game’s scoring with Owen Warnick’s 17th of the campaign early in the second period.
Ryan McDonald and James Fuchs responded with two for the Pistons before Steelers’ Jacob Ziegler scored his first of the season to tie things up just 25 seconds after the Fuchs goal in the third period.
Things remained tied at two before Paronuzzi ended it in overtime for the Pistons 3-2 win.
Steelers goaltender Noel Olsonawski was busy stopping 36 of 39 in the game.
The Steelers then played another extremely close game with the Portage Terriers on Saturday in Selkirk.
Remy Hlady scored twice and Owen Branson added another as the Steelers made it 3-3 entering the third period after trailing 3-1 in the second.
After the Terriers went up one in the third from a goal by Owen Witt, the Steelers pushed for an equalizer but ultimately couldn’t find a way to get one more past Mitchell Kathler.
Kathler stopped 29 shots for the Terriers as they went on for the 4-3 win. Noel Olsonawski once again broke the 30-save mark for the Steelers, stopping 31 of the 35 shots he faced.
The Steelers now get a chance at a rematch with the Terriers on Monday afternoon in Portage la Prairie. Due to our press schedule, the score of Monday’s game was unavailable.
They’ll play home and home with the Winnipeg Freeze on Friday and Saturday.
Record Photos by Rayme Thomson
Rohan Guevarra
Upcoming Games:
Monday, Feb. 17 at Portage Terriers, 3:30 p.m. at Stride Place
Friday, Feb. 21 vs Winnipeg Freeze, 7:30 p.m. at Selkirk Recreation Complex
Saturday, Feb. 22 vs Winnipeg Freeze, 6 p.m. at Hockey For All Centre