Veteran Luke Cox scored in a 5-2 loss to North Vancouver. “Been a privilege to be part of the Steelers for five years,” he said. (Alistair Burns / Grandview Steelers)
North Vancouver’s Corson Penman notches hat trick
BURNABY WINTER CLUB – The North Vancouver Wolf Pack used their sublime speed to frustrate the Grandview Steelers at both ends of the ice Oct. 29.
The Wolf Pack’s Corson Penman scored twice shorthanded. His second was a remarkable unassisted effort on a breakaway – he successfully deked Steeler goalie Ronin Geraghty. Then, Penman added another even strength goal for a 5-2 away victory.
At press time, Oct. 30, the Steelers had a record of seven wins, six losses along with two shootout losses for a total of 16 points – that’s fifth in the seven-team Tom Shaw Conference.
Geraghty faced 34 shots. His record between the pipes fell to five wins and two losses with a 3.72 goals-against-average.
However, Geraghty was sharp early and kept Grandview in the contest. In the first period, North Van’s J.J. Pickell – the top goal scorer in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) with 18 – had a glorious chance when he skated wide and pushed his way past Steeler captain Gabe Adam.
But Geraghty alertly read Pickell’s move and swatted the puck away with a poke check. A few minutes later, the Grandview netminder went down into a snow angel move in his crease, but the ensuing North Van shot went off a Steeler defenceman and skittered into the corner.
There were two bright moments for the Steelers. Grandview rookie Arjan Grewal lit the lamp for his first PJHL goal when he finished off a feed from Cam Northard.
Grewal was “pretty excited” when he found out he had made the roster. “All the boys are great guys. They took me in and taught me a lot so far.”
The latter moment came when Grandview veteran Luke Cox put home a power play marker late in the middle frame.
Band of ‘brothers’: Cox
“It’s been a privilege to be part of the Steelers for five years now,” Cox said. “I just want to give everything I can.”
In his final junior season, the 20-year-old Cox reflected on his journey. When he was younger, his focus was centred more on the individual accolades that came from lacing up – collecting goals, points, and the quest for a championship.
While the veteran still wants to win, it’s not his sole focus. Maturation has led him to treasure his fellow teammates. After all, they’re more than just players to pass to. They’re his “brothers.”
“It’s all love,” Cox declared. Now, his hope for this season is for the “boys in that [dressing] room to feel the success and the love” from their shared odyssey.
Inside Steeltown post-game interviews:
Steeler Luke Cox is proud to wear his heart on his sleeve for Grandview.
Steeler Arjan Grewal chats about being a playmaker.
CCM Three Stars
Third star: NV goalie # 1 Brayden Burrows (two goals allowed, 35 saves).
Second star: NV # 13 Rylan Oatman (two assists).
First star: NV #10 Corson Penman (three goals, one assist).
