Captain Gabe Adam scored the game-winner Oct. 8 against Pt. Moody. (Alistair Burns / Grandview Steelers)
Steelers give up two shorthanded goals but veterans find enough puck luck
BURNABY WINTER CLUB – In a nail-biting shootout, veteran Steeler Gabe Adam had victory riding on his stick. His shot slid under Port Moody Panther goalie Ty Angus’s pads for a 4-3-win Oct. 8.
“Just hoping for a little backhand [to] forehand and I was lucky enough to squeak it in,” said Adam, Grandview’s captain, Oct. 8. This is his fourth season with the club and first with the ‘C’ stitched onto his sweater.
Adam, 19, said he was “very fortunate” to lead the Steelers. Hopefully, he could “teach some lessons to the younger guys and set an example.”
In the third period, Adam also hammered home a shot from the point to ensure the Steelers would have a chance in overtime. It was his third of the season.
Shorthanded Panthers on the prowl
Strangely enough, the Panthers were more effective while shorthanded than at even strength. Two goals came with a man short – the first by Ty Balchen only 32 seconds into the third – and then Austin Todd notched his own 12 minutes later to tie the game at 3-3.
At press time, Oct. 11, the Steelers had a power play conversion rate of 17.9 per cent (7-for-39). However, they had also allowed eight goals against when skating with the extra man.
Adam acknowledged that the special teams would need some work. “Obviously we weren’t as consistent as we would like to be. But ultimately, we were able to work hard, battle back.”
One of the hardest workers was Steeler goalie Ronin Geraghty, who stood his ground in 3-on-3 overtime. During the last minute of play, Todd had a breakaway and pulled off a backhand deke. But Geraghty ably read Todd’s move and steered the puck wide.
Afterwards, Geraghty said that tense moments “always get your stomach turning a little bit.” But, with a Grandview defenceman rushing back, there wasn’t “much to worry about.”
Geraghty, 19, faced 32 shots – and an additional five in the shootout – where he only allowed one Panther to score.
Konechny still piping hot
In the opening frame, Steeler Steven Konechny took control of the puck in close and picked the top corner over Panther net minder Angus. A month into the regular season, Konechny’s hands are still red-hot as he leads Grandview in goals scored with five.
Inside Steeltown post-game interviews:
Steeler Gabe Adam chats about his responsibilities as captain.
Steeler Ronin Geraghty on his friendship with fellow Grandview goalie Shayan Kermany.
CCM Three Stars for Oct. 8
Third star: PM # 9 Ty Balchen (one goal, one assist).
Second star: GRA # 26 Steven Konechny (one goal, one assist).
First star: GRA # 3 Gabe Adam (one goal, plus game-winner in shootout).
