STEELERS END SEASON WITH STRONG EFFORT IN LOSS

The last time the Steelers met the Strangers, the Steelers iced a skeleton squad and were pounded 6-1. This time around, the Steelers had a full bench and the game was a nail-biter to the end. Despite a full bench, the Steelers were without Anthony Lam and Don McCartney but did have Northern Ontario Jr. A. Hockey star Mike Didulka in the line-up to bolster the beer fund. The game was a penalty filled contest with both teams taking their fair share of penalties (some of the questionable variety). In fact, 54 penalty minutes were called during the game including 26 to the Strangers #77 who took a roughing double minor and a double misconduct on the same play. Former Lady Byng candidate, Marco Jones led the way for the Steelers with two double minors of his own during the game. The parade to the penalty box played havoc with the lines as many on forward and on defence missed several shifts…'what are you going to do?'. The Strangers jumped all over the Steelers with 3 goals in the first to open up a 3-0 lead. It seemed bleak for the Steelers as the team continued to take penalties while trying to get back into it. However, while shorthanded, the Steelers' Didulka scored to make it 3-1. The Strangers regained the 3-goal margin with a goal of their own before the final frame. The third period belonged to the Steelers as Warkentin scored to narrow the lead to 2 and with the net empty Didulka scored his second of the game with just under 40 seconds left. The Steelers kept Pouliot pulled for the last 40 seconds and had some chances to pull even but in the end just fell short 4-3.

Of note, during the last few minutes of the game, Larry 'Colliacovo' suffered what seemed to be a mild concussion as his head collided with a Strangers knee. This is Larry's 8th injury of the year. Team doctors are optimistic he will be ready to go for the team's first playoff game this week.

Scoring Summary

Didulka G 2 (6) A 0
Warkentin G 1 (10) A 0 (got robbed)
Beausejour G 0 A 1 (7)
Lindsay G 0 A 1 (8)
Durigon G 0 A 1 (7)