Ranked seventh in the north with a winning record, the St. Albert Steel are on the verge of greatness with games in hand on the rest of the division.
"We're definitely not high in the standings but our record [17-10] is good. Our winning percentage is probably top three or four in the north," forward Derek Bacon told the Gazette at Tuesday's practice. "We've won nine out of our last 12 games so things are going pretty good."
Three points separated the Steel and the fourth-place Grande Prairie Storm (17-11-0-3) when the teams faced off Friday in Leduc. St. Albert has played four fewer games. The score was unavailable at press time.
The Steel were also two points back of the Sherwood Park Crusaders (16-12-0-4) and Lloydminster Bobcats (18-14) with five games in hand.
"We can't worry about where we are. We're going to catch up in games and we've got to use them to our advantage. When we're even in games we're going to be ahead of those teams," Bacon said.
On Sunday the Steel host the last-place Drayton Valley Thunder (5-21-0-4) at 6 p.m. at Performance Arena. It's also the annual Teddy Bear Toss game in support of the Kinettes' Christmas Hamper Drive. Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal and throw it to the ice after the Steel scores their first goal.
After going 7-3 in November, highlighted by a season-high four-game winning streak, the Steel will play nine games over 20 days prior to the Christmas break.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves. We have to play every game that comes up and not worry about the Christmas break," said goalie Rhys Hadfield. "We have to use our days off and take care of our bodies, which is really important, and just be ready for the games."
Next weekend the Steel play a two-game series in Fort McMurray against the second-place Oil Barons (19-6-0-6). The following weekend they host Sherwood Park and Fort McMurray and visit Drayton Valley.
"Coach [Greg] Parks has started breaking it down into three-game segments so we're not looking too far ahead. We just finished a three-game segment so our next three we're going to try and win two of the three," Bacon said. "We've got to pay attention to detail against the teams we're facing in the next three games and then take it from there."
Last weekend the Steel lost a tight 2-1 decision to the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion Spruce Grove Saints in St. Albert and tamed the Camrose Kodiaks 3-2 in overtime. The Saints (25-2-0-3) are ranked number one in the Canadian Junior Hockey League and the Kodiaks (18-11-0-3) are hosting the 2011 Royal Bank Cup.
"It was a good weekend against two top teams definitely," Bacon said. "Although we didn't win [against the Saints] we put in a pretty good effort. We're going to get those guys at the end of the year for sure. As for Camrose, we knew we had to win that one. We weren't going to lose two in a row on the weekend."
The Steel coughed up a 2-0 lead in Camrose after captain Mike Giese (seventh) and Bacon (14th) connected in period two. The Kodiaks knotted the count in the third with goals 43 seconds apart on the power play. Their first goal at 14:27 was scored during a five-on-three advantage.
"We had it all the way, and then with about five minutes left they scored two goals," said Hadfield, who was poised to record his first shutout since midget AAA when the Kodiaks rallied to force overtime. "I was feeling pretty good that game. I had my grandmother there too, so that was nice."
The Southside Athletic Club product stopped 34 shots, but wasn't tested in OT. Reed Linaker (12th) capitalized on the power play 51 seconds into the five-minute extra period after the Kodiaks were penalized for tripping with three seconds left in the third.
Busy puck stopper
The eighth victory after regulation time and the sixth in OT marked the eighth game in a row the Steel were outshot with Hadfield tending the twine.
"I like to see at least 30 shots a game. It keeps you in the game," he said. "If there is a shot every now and then, like every five minutes, you get real bored back there and it's pretty lonely."
Hadfield (17-9) has been a reliable workhorse for the eighth-best defensive team in the league with only a few non-starts.
"I want to play every game obviously and as long as the coach gives me the opportunity, my body is fine for it," said Hadfield, arguably the team's most valuable player at this stage of the season.
He hooked up with the Steel after splitting his junior A rookie campaign with Grande Prairie and the Nanaimo Clippers.
"Before the season started I had hoped to split half the games. I'm already almost there at the 30 mark so I'm really happy with how the season has gone so far."
Prior to Friday's contest Hadfield ranked second in wins, games played (26) and shots (77). He was fifth in minutes played (1,394), 14th in save percentage (.902) and 21st in goals-against average (3.31).
"I would obviously like my goals against to be a little bit lower, but that will come. It takes like a whole season of good starts. One bad game can really mess you over," Hadfield said. "As long as my save percentage is above nine I'm pretty happy but I would like it to be a little higher."
Against the Saints he faced 38 shots and let in a pair in the opening 10 minutes, including a power-play marker at 2:21.
"We were right there with them," Hadfield said. "Even though we did lose we took a lot out of that game. They're number one in Canada so we can obviously contend with anyone in the country."
Bacon made it a one-goal game 61 seconds into the third. Linemates Brandon Fagerheim and rookie Jeremy Olinyk set up the play. Both players also picked up assists in Camrose.
In 10 games with the Steel after arriving in a trade from the Victoria Grizzlies, Fagerheim has 12 assists and 14 points. He started filling in at centre when Bacon was shifted from the middle to left wing. They were teammates with the Grizzlies and in midget with Calgary's Edge School for Athletes.
"It's my first time on the left side doing it but it's been working out," said Bacon, who sniped goals in three straight games. "Fagerheim is a more of a passer so it's been a good mix so far."
Bacon, 19, leads the Steel in points with 32 in his first AJHL season. Three of his 14 goals were game winners.
"I try not to get too caught up with numbers. I just let it take care of itself," he said. "I've slowed down a bit since the start of the season [six goals, 11 assists in 11 games] but we're winning and that's all that really matters."
