A three-game homestand this weekend at Performance Arena marks a pivotal point in the season for the St. Albert Steel.
Holding down the seventh and last playoff spot in the north standings, the Steel enjoyed games in hand on the rest of the division.
“These games are quite important, especially against teams that are in our division,” left-winger Tanner Labbe said at Wednesday’s practice. “Any game in hand is a good one to win.”
The Steel took their 10-7 record into Friday’s contest against the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Spruce Grove Saints (15-2-0-3). The division leaders were ranked seventh in the Canadian Junior Hockey League as the highest listed AJHL team. The score was unavailable at press time.
Tonight at 7 p.m. the Steel host the fifth-place Grande Prairie Storm (12-7-0-2). Sunday’s guests are the Calgary Mustangs (8-13), the AJHL’s worst defensive team. Faceoff is 2:30 p.m. After the game, fans are invited to skate with the Steel. Helmets are mandatory.
“We really want to take these points this weekend. We’re going to take each game at a time and hopefully we do really good,” said Labbe.
His game winner last weekend in Bonnyville against the third-place Pontiacs (13-4-0-3) was the Steel’s second triumph in a row and their fifth in 10 games. It capped off a three-goal outburst in period three after the Steel gave up a pair in the middle frame.
“Being down two goals, we fought quite a bit of adversity to come back like we did,” Labbe said of the 3-2 win. “We were all positive on the bench and we believed in each other.”
His third goal this season and second in two games was scored with 1:49 left in regulation.
“I was just driving to the net and Reed Linaker had the puck and he went around the net. I was just wide open in the slot and I called for it. He passed it back door and I put it into the empty net,” Labbe said. “I didn’t have the greatest game so it was a good goal to get.”
Taylor Fraser also assisted on the play. His team-leading 11th goal in 17 games, and sixth on the power play, knotted the count at two apiece at 11:34. Linaker’s 10th goal at 7:59 triggered the comeback.
Outshot 23-8 after two periods, the Steel poured on the pressure in the third stanza with a 14-5 shot advantage. Backstopping the Steel to victory was Rhys Hadfield (10-6, 3.84 GAA).
Labbe’s goal was his sixth point in nine games with the Steel. The AJHL rookie arrived in St. Albert after he was unable to crack the line-up of the Chilliwack Bruins.
“Coach [Greg] Parks gave me a call after I was let go and I said I would be happy to play for them,” Labbe said.
In his AJHL debut Sept. 27 he picked up an assist in the 12-4 blowout by the Oil Barons in Fort McMurray. Two games later the Calgary product of the Edge School academy recorded his first Steel goal, the game winner against Mustangs’ goalie Robin Billingham, in the 6-2 decision at the AJHL Showcase event in Spruce Grove.
“It’s been great so far. I’ve been playing kind of injured [lower body] but it’s getting better now and I’m feeling pretty good out there,” Labbe said.
The five-foot-10, 175-pound skater described himself as diligent player with an offensive upside.
“I’m a hard worker. I like to have the puck on my stick and make plays for my linemates,” said Labbe, the game star in the 6-5 win over the Brooks Bandits with one goal and two helpers Oct. 10 in St. Albert.
The last few games Labbe has shone on the top line with the high-flying Fraser (25 points) and Linaker (24 points), an all-star centre who made the Canada West roster for the fifth annual World Junior A Challenge, Nov. 8 to 14 in Penticton, B.C.
“I’m actually quite impressed with my linemates. They’re making me a better player,” he said. “We’re still trying to get our chemistry straightened out but it’s gone good so far. Any time you’re playing with the two top players it’s pretty good. There is definitely nothing to complain about.”
The 18-year-old is patrolling the left side after playing his rep hockey at right wing.
“It’s kind of been an adjustment but I’m getting used to it,” said Labbe, one of seven rookies on the Steel roster.
ICE CHIPS: Going into the weekend series the Steel were 6-2 on home ice.
Sunday’s matinee will feature the return of Ryan Wilkinson to St. Albert after the Steel’s assistant captain walked out on the team Oct. 5 and demanded a traded. Wilkinson, 19, was the Steel’s highest-scoring defenceman with seven points in 11 games before his wishes were accommodated. In exchange for the St. Albert product, the Steel acquired defenceman Thomas Ward-Cardinal from the Mustangs. Ward-Cardinal, 18, had six assists in five games with the Steel. Wilkinson scored once and had three assists in eight games for the Mustangs, formerly the Calgary Royals.
In a bid to put fans in the stands, Steel tickets are only $5 for every Friday home game in November. They include the Lloydminster Bobcats on the 12th, Bonnyville on the 19th and Spruce Grove on the 26th.
