BRANTFORD – They didn’t see it coming, but the last place last place Hamilton Steelhawks had a taste of success Friday night by winning its fifth game of the Sr. AAA Allan Cup 4-2 over the third-place Brantford Blast at the Brantford and District Civic Centre.
After Blast veterans Mark Taylor and Mike Burgoyne put the Blast up 2-0, Brantford let the momentum swing towards Hamilton. Dean Strong and Taylor Carnevale evened the score at 2-2 after the first period.
Hamilton’s Jamie Williams scored the go-ahead goal 1:55 seconds into the second period. Steelhawks goalie Dalton McGrath had a slightly easier night than Brett Leggat at the other end who faced 47 shots, game total, while McGrath stopped 22 of 24 shots he was called upon to deal with.
As time wound down, the Blast had a golden opportunity to get that one back, after Carnevale drew a holding-the-stick minor with 36 seconds left. Leggat was pulled for the extra attacker, time out was called and the Blast bench staff went over a set play to maximize its five on three advantage. However, only six seconds after the faceoff, Mitch McCrank scored the shorthanded, unassisted, empty-net, game-clinching goal.
The Blast is currently in third place with 31 points, only one point ahead of the Thorold Athletics whom they face this Friday night in Brantford, at 7:30 p.m.
