A Clipboard exclusive – we get an inside look at North American Junior hockey through the eyes of Mike Gionta. While playing for the Queen City Steam of the Central States Hockey League, Mike will share his weekly experiences with the Clipboard. He doesn’t mind being called the cousin of Brian or Stephen, but on the Clipboard he is Mike Gionta.
After our fourth weekend of the season we have established a respectable record of 3-2.
Our first weekend we played St. Louis Jr. Blues. Going into that weekend the Steam had never won a game in their building. The curse continued in the first game. The Blues came to play. They dominated the majority of the game scoring six goals. We had no response to it. The third period buzzer sounded with the scoreboard reading Blues 6 and the Steam 0.
On Sunday afternoon, the Steam had different plans. Now we knew what to expect. We dominated play, but the Jr. Blues showed fight taking the Steam into overtime. With a 3 to 3 tie at the end of OT, there would be a shootout. We fought it out and won the game in the shootout – the first game ever one in that building by the Steam.
The following weekend, our home opener, was a bit easier. We played the Grand Rapids Jr. Owls. From the drop of the puck it was just a Steam train rolling over the Owls. The score on Saturday night ended with the Steam 5 and the Jr. Owls 1.
On Sunday we were in for a surprise from Mother Nature. Midway through the second we were ahead 6-1. Suddenly, with tornado winds blowing outside, the lights at the arena went out. The game was postponed until we go up to Michigan to play them.
A long hard working week was ahead of us as we went into the week knowing we have one of the possibly toughest weekends in the season upon us as we had to play the Dubuque Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds are the defending Hurster Cup champions. As the weekend approached practice became more focused and intense. Saturday night came, and it was time for our big test. The Steam came out strong ending the first period with a 3-1 lead over the T-birds. But Dubuque, the team that they are, fought back in the second period and tied it up 3-3. Coach Biggs lit a fire under us during intermission, and we came out flying for the third. The game ended with a score of Thunderbirds 3 Steam 4. It was an accomplishment that we were more that satisfied with.
But we knew we were in for a dog fight the following afternoon.
The fight continued the next day. The Thunderbirds took an early lead of 2-1 over us until the almost the end of the second when we faced adversity once again. As the puck went into the corner defenseman, Luke Blackmen, raced after it with an opposing Thunderbird. Luke was hit and fell awkwardly into the boards. He went down and didn’t get back up. This was the second time in less than a month that the Steam would have to witness one of its members getting stretchered off the ice. After the hit all of our momentum was gone, and the Thunderbirds took control of the game. We lost the game by a score of 7-1.
It has been an interesting start of the season. There have been many highs and many lows already. We are focus on winning the Hurster Cup and advancing to nationals. Even though it was a good start to the season much more work is at hand to make sure that we do not let anymore games slip out of reach. Everyone is becoming more adjusted with their living arrangements and jobs and school.
The Steam is going to become a force in the CSHL.
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