Jordan Abt waited 54 games over two seasons to celebrate his first Alberta Junior Hockey League goal.
But the St. Albert Steel defenceman from Thorsby never saw the puck go into the net during Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Grande Prairie Storm.
“It was pretty exciting to get that first one. It took a lot of pressure off me,” Abt told the Gazette at Monday’s practice. “Hopefully it’s not my last one. I hope they keep coming.”
Abt, 19, beat netminder Colin Dzijacky at 6:08 of period two to trim the Storm’s lead to 6-2.
“I saw the defenceman pass it up to the far side and I intercepted it. I took it in and shot it,” Abt said. “I actually didn’t even see it go in, but that’s OK. It still felt pretty good.”
In his AJHL debut the midget AAA product of the Maple Leafs collected four assists in 52 games, plus 67 penalty minutes. He didn’t register his first AJHL point until his 18th game.
After the season he was honoured as the Steel’s rookie of the year.
“I didn’t really see it coming but it’s a pretty special thing,” Abt said of the biggest award of his hockey career.
His ice time flourished when the Steel shipped assistant captain Nick Scott, the team’s highest scoring defenceman, to the Drumheller Dragons at the Jan. 10 trade deadline.
“We lost a defenceman so we were down to six D. I got a bunch of chances so it wound up pretty good for myself,” said Abt, who made the season-opening line-up out of training camp and stayed with the team. “I thought I had a good season. I was happy with what I did.”
The loss in Grande Prairie was only the second game for Abt after a shot to the face in the pre-season put the former Leduc midget player out of commission with a broken right cheekbone.
“I really wanted to be out there. It was tough to watch and not play for a month.”
With a couple of plates in Abt’s face to repair the damage, the rugged six-foot and 175-pound skater will wear a full cage mask for another week until he is fully healed.
The Steel have high expectations for Abt and the stay-at-home defenceman feels the same way.
“I’m a year older now, and as one of the older guys back there I have to play a lot better,” he said. “I definitely feel a lot more comfortable out there than I did last year. I would like to contribute offensively, too, if I can. Hopefully I will get some power play time this year.”
In his first game of the season Oct. 13, a 5-4 shootout win over the Bonnyville Pontiacs (10-2-0-3) in St. Albert, Abt spent time paired with his brother, Matt, a 17-year-old who towers over his older brother.
“I think it was back in peewee or atom when we last we played together,” Jordan said. “It was pretty cool experience to play with my brother in junior hockey.”
In midget AAA with Leduc last season, Matt posted four goals, four assists and 55 PIM in 34 games.
“We play a lot alike. He’s a pretty defensive guy,” Jordan said. “I’ve tried to help him out a little bit with what it’s like to play junior hockey but he is figuring it out pretty good.”
As for the Steel (8-6), they failed to show up again for another road game as the Storm (7-5-0-2) outshot St. Albert 16-9 in the first period while building up a commanding 5-1 lead. The first of three goals by Tanner Fritz in the opening frame was scored 14 seconds into the match. The Storm also tallied twice on the power play.
Rhys Hadfield (8-6, 3.98 GAA) was replaced by Chris Sharkey (5.56 GAA) at 4:48 of period two after the sixth Storm goal.
Spencer Pommells (seventh) and Taylor Fraser (ninth) on the power play filled the Storm net. Shots overall were 34 apiece.
The Steel play Saturday at home against the Brooks Bandits (7-5-0-3). Faceoff is 7 p.m. at Performance Arena.
