Steeler Steven Konechny made a remarkable effort in overtime Feb. 11. (Alistair Burns / Grandview Steelers)
Grandview’s Steven Konechny puts teammates on his back for comeback ‘W’ in regular season finale
BURNABY WINTER CLUB – The Grandview Steelers scratched numerous veterans for the upcoming postseason. But one older face still made a major impact against the Port Moody Panthers Feb. 11.
Steeler Steven Konechny, a 20-year-old skating in his final Jr. ‘A’ season, scored a hat trick, including the game-winner. He hurtled past a Panther defenceman to a loose puck at centre ice and then converted a backhand that squeaked through the pads of Panthers goalie Lucas Poratto – with a mere eight seconds left in overtime.
“It’s huge. We need this going into playoffs – we need the energy, we need the momentum, we just need that confidence,” Konechny said afterwards.
The Steelers concluded the 2023-2024 season with a record of 24 wins, 22 losses and two shootout losses for a total of 50 points – the fifth and final seed to make the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Panthers finished sixth in the Shaw Conference and will look for answers over the summer.
New faces, new scorers
After Grandview’s affiliated player (AP) Dominic Seminoff scored his first of the season from the slot, the Panthers went ahead 2-1. But Konechny finished off a trio of passes from fellow new faces Nick Campbell and Keiran Wilkie when the veteran’s wrister went roof daddy over Poratto’s shoulder with five minutes left in the middle frame.
In the third period, Port Moody’s Connor Hughes buried an unassisted breakaway effort while shorthanded – before Konechny took over for good.
In goal, both Grandview netminders saw action between the pipes for a final tune-up. Ronin Geraghty allowed one goal on 12 shots before Shayan Kermany took over at the 11-minute mark of the second period. Kermany gave up two goals on 21 shots, but he was credited with the victory – his eighth of the season.
The Steelers will hope to ride the emotional high of this comeback victory into the postseason, which starts this Wednesday, Feb. 14th versus the White Rock Whalers at 7:15 p.m in the Burnaby Winter Club.
We’ll have a playoff preview of that series tomorrow, Feb. 13th.
Inside Steeltown post-game interviews
Steven Konechny said he was a little nervous before the regular season finale.
