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Late goal helps Steelers tie Depew, 4-4

OBSERVER Photo by Ron Szot Dunkirk/Fredonia’s Nolan Mages skates with the puck during Sunday’s High School Club Hockey League game at Steele Hall against Depew.

Despite the Dunkirk/Fredonia Steelers responding twice in the third period to salvage a 4-4 tie to Depew on Sunday in High School Club Hockey League action at Steele Hall, it was a game that got away from the Steelers.

After building a 2-0 lead after the first period, Mike Meredith’s goal with 5:28 left in the third period helped the Steelers fend off a loss, after they trailed, 4-3, late in the game.

“I think it’s a game that got away,” Dunkirk/Fredonia coach Jay Bishop said. “I was a little nervous going into the game. I saw Depew play and I knew they were a strong team with some really good players. I thought it would be a good test for our team. Overall, I think it was a good battle. We really stressed battle and competition this game. The fact they were able to come back and answer their goals with our goals tells me a lot about the character of this team. I learned a lot about this team (Sunday) that will really carry us through.”

The Steelers got on the board first thanks to a hard-working play by Carter D’Agostino. After losing the puck behind the net, D’Agostino recovered by knocking a Depew player off the puck to the right of the goaltender. The puck went to Taylor Mattoon, who promptly put a backhanded shot into the net for the 1-0 lead with 14:01 left in the period.

“Carter made a great play,” Bishop said. “He set up that goal. That’s what we want players to do. There is no room for selfish players in hockey. Carter is unselfish and he set up that goal which really set the tone for the period.”

At right, Dunkirk/Fredonia goalie Nick Novelli makes a save while teammate Christian Michalski ties up Depew’s Austin Turnbull (92).

At the 6:01 mark, the Steelers cashed in on their first power-play opportunity of the day as Ryan Thompson, standing at the right of the net, put a shot on net. The Depew goalie made the save, but the rebound came right back to Thompson, who shot again, only this time he found the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.

In the second period, the visitors began their attempt at a comeback. Zach Barlow scored the first of his three goals thanks to a pretty backhand pass from Zach Kaczmarek.

And less than a minute into the third period, Barlow found the net once again on a power-play goal at the 16:08 mark with Patrick Whalen getting the assist.

However, 33 seconds later, Dunkirk/Fredonia’s Chris Buchanan stopped the bleeding momentarily with a quick wrist shot off a faceoff win from Meredith to recapture a 3-2 lead.

The Steelers were very strong at winning faceoffs throughout the contest Sunday.

OBSERVER Photos by Ron Szot At left, Dunkirk/Fredonia’s Mike Persch looks for a teammate to pass to during Sunday’s High School Club Hockey League game at Steele Hall against Depew. 

“We really want to focus on puck possession and that starts with winning the faceoff,” Bishop said. “I Thought they did a good job at that and running our faceoff plays.”

Depew did not go away quietly as Kaczmarek tied the score 3-all. After circling around the Dunkirk/Fredonia zone, Kaczmarek fired a shot from the left side of the net for the goal.

And with 6:12 left, Depew took the lead as Kaczmarek’s shot from the point was deflected by Barlow for his third goal of the game and the 4-3 advantage.

But just like Buchanan did, Meredith responded for the Steelers with a goal 44 seconds later for the equalizer.

“They are our two co-captains,” Bishop said of Meredith and Buchanan. “When I look for leadership, I look to those two guys. They certainly stepped up on the bench and on the ice. I can’t say enough about Chris and Mike. They have a will to succeed. When they get on the ice, they do everything they can. Ryan Thompson on that line is such an asset. It’s great to have a line that I have that much confidence in.”

Both teams had plenty of chances in an entertaining five-minute 4-on-4 sudden death period, but neither could score the game-winner.

The Steelers outshot Depew, 45-27.

“Offensively, we need to hit the net more,” Bishop said. “We had a ton of chances. It could have been a much different score if we capitalized. We had a ton of chances, I can’t believe how many shots went over the net or wide. I am happy we are getting shots and generating offensive threats.”

After five league games, the Steelers hold a 2-2-1 mark.

“I am really happy with where we are,” Bishop concluded. “I was trepidatious playing in an upper league, but the kids have responded well. The level of competition is better. The kids are faster, goaltending is better and there is less time to make decisions with the puck. But our kids have responded well. Through five games, our team development is coming along well. I am real happy with what we have seen.”

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