The Steelheads battled to the end, but came up just short against the London Knights in their 10th Annual Teddy Bear Toss game.
First Period
The Steelheads face the Knights for the second and last time this season in their 10th Annual Teddy Bear Toss. The last time these two teams faced off, the Trout walked away with 5-4 overtime win, and tonight are looking for a similar outcome.
The Steelheads came out powerful and did not wait long to send the bears flying. Just two minutes into the game, Owen Beck sent the puck to Kai Schwindt, who pulled it to his back-hand and put it just over the pad of Knights’ goaltender Zach Bowen to bring down the bears. Kapser Larsen picked up the secondary assists, recording his ninth of the season.
The Steelheads continued to badger the opposing goaltender with shots, but it was ultimately London’s turn to get on the board. Around seven minutes into the period, Knights’ forward Ruslan Gazizov beat Ryerson Leenders on the far side to tie the game at 1 a piece.
Just a few minutes later, London struck again to take the lead for the first time in the game. Gazizov scored his second of the game up high on Leenders to put his team up 2-1 just after the halfway point of the period.
Mississauga did not take kindly to this and upped their pressure, and it paid off. Just over a minute after the 2-1 goal, Larsen took a shot from the blue line that was ultimately tipped by Luca Del Bel Belluz in front, which tied the game at two. The centreman’s 14th goal of the season comes in his 150th career OHL game.
With just under eight minutes left in the period, London’s Logan Mailloux beat Leenders up high to take back the lead. Several more opportunities were exchanged throughout the period, but the score remained 3-2 for London after twenty minutes of play.
Shots on Goal – 8 LDN/13 MISS
Second Period
The Steelheads started the period strong, taking a flurry of shots on Bowen to try to turn the momentum in their favour. However, London used their momentum built in the first period to get the first goal of the frame. With a scramble in front of Leenders, the puck bounced off a defending player and crossed the goal line to put the Knights up 4-2 early in the middle frame. London’s Brody Crane was credited with the insurance goal.
The Steelheads upped the pressure and physicality, leading to a Trout power play just over eight minutes into the period. On the man-advantage, the Steelheads had their best chance of the period when Larsen sent the puck to Del Bel Belluz who one-timed it. The puck was stopped just before the goal line by Bowen to keep the game 4-2 in the Knights’ favour going into second intermission.
Shots on Goal – 9 LDN/11 MISS
Third Period
The physicality continued to increase from the moment the puck dropped for the final frame. The Knights jumped on the puck quickly, as Sean McGurn tipped it in front to put the Knights up 5-2 early in the third period.
Finding themselves on the power play a few minutes later, the Trout knew it was their time to strike once again. With a pass from defenceman Chas Sharpe, Luke Misa carried it into the zone, beating defenders to send a clear shot top-corner past the opposing goaltender to bring the Steelheads within two.
With 2:30 remaining, the Steelheads pulled Leenders, and only needed a few seconds to come within one. Kai Schwindt, on Bowen’s doorstep, managed to pick up the rebound on James Hardie shot and send it to Del Bel Belluz. With a quick shot, the Woodbridge, ON native put it straight past London’s goaltender to record his 15th of the year and make it 5-4.
Despite an increased pressure from the Trout in the game’s dying minutes, the Knights held the lead to win the game 5-4.
Shots on Goal – 3 LDN/22 MISS
Total Shots – 20 LDN/46 MISS
Three Stars:
- Brody Crane (1G, 3A)
- Luca Del Bel Belluz (2G)
- Kai Schwindt (1G, 1A)
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