After a hard fought battle in their home barn, the Steelheads fell short of a victory over the Kitimat Ice Demons, during Saturday night CIHL action. Although they gave it their all right until the buzzer, it wasn’t enough to shutdown the Demons, ending in a tight 5-4 loss.

The Steelheads took an early 2-1 lead in the first period after capitalizing on two solid power plays with goals from Russell Blanchard, and Brendon Hutchinson. However, after a couple of bad bounces and soft mental breakdowns during the second period, the Demons emerged with two unanswered goals and 3-2 lead going into the third.

After a quick goal in the first five minutes of the final period the Demons had a two goal lead, but were still being outshot by the Steelheads 34-24, which was a good assessment of how hard the Steelheads were working to bury the puck.

Late in the third it looked like the Steelheads were coming back, putting one passed the Kitimat net-minder with 1:25 left to play, and then coming back again less than a minute later, battling right down to the wire.

“We were disappointed,” said Steelheads head coach, Gord Young. “We thought we played well enough to win, there were a few mental mistakes, we had a lapse for about five or six minutes and Kitimat capitalized on it. Their goalie played very well, and we had a few bad bounces in front of their net.”

The Steelheads now go into the second month of the regular season sitting in fourth place, with six points, and a record of 3-2-0.

However, since the beginning of the season three weeks ago the Steelheads have made some great improvements, and are hungry for the Terrace River Kings in a weeks time.

“Were moving the puck much better as a team,” said Young. “Better passing, and better all around chemistry, but we’re still having mental breakdowns.”

However, Young says the Steelheads should be able to out play the River Kings next weekend, if they come prepared, because in the CIHL any team that comes out to play hard can take it all.

The Steelheads next game will be Nov. 7 in Terrace, and will be back in Smithers on the 14th for a double header with the River Kings.