“We came out swinging from the start and didn’t give up the whole way,” Steelers’ Mitchell Heard said. “We needed that, and there was never any doubt about it.”
The Steelers opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period when Stephen Harper fired a snap from the hashmarks under Shane Owen’s blocker for the home team’s opener. The lead was doubled later in the frame when Brien Diffley finished off Ryan Tait’s strong work along the boards, forced the puck into the slot and lifted his shot high past Owen.
Early in the second period, the Steelers struck again while shorthanded. While captain Robert Dowd played two minutes out for hooking, Mikko Juusola got a decisive tip to extend the lead. Just over a minute later it was four as Mitchell Balmas was sent clear by Tait and beat Owen in the breakaway with a composed finish.
The fifth goal came before the halfway mark and completed a brace for Harper. Mitchell Heard kept the puck behind the Flyers net before finding Harper in the high slot, where he picked the top corner.
Heard has recorded seven points in four games, drawing level with Brett Ritchie and Stephen Harper. “We all grew up in Ontario playing the same game. I think we think about the game the same way!” he revealed. “We’re doing well, we have some chemistry. We’re all big, can skate, have big shots and are all on the same page.”
Sheffield showed no signs of easing up in the third period. Just over a minute later, Ryan Tait used his speed to round Jeremy Masella before finishing into an empty net for the sixth of the afternoon. The seventh followed an excellent shift from young Brit Ivan Bjorkly Nordstrom, who started the play by stealing the puck in his own zone before joining the rush and converting a backdoor pass from Heard.
The scoring was completed with 4:46 remaining when an Evan Jasper shot, possibly tipped by Patrick Watling, found past Owen to complete an impressive evening for the hosts.
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