The names Malcolm Huemmert and Matteo
Paler-Chow are getting a lot of play these days.
The two Grandview Steelers continue to play leading roles in the club’s Pacific Junior B Hockey League playoff run, and are a reason why the Steelers are playing another day.
Huemmert scored the game winner and Paler-Chow turned back 39 shots as Grandview emerged 3-2 winners Sunday over Richmond in Game 7 of the opening playoff series.
Having to play a seventh game wasn’t necessarily a concern, but Steelers coach Stevan Matic said there was a little anxiety.
“I wouldn’t say I was nervous, more anxious to play the game,” Matic said of the pre-game preparation. “We did our video, the players were prepared. We did all we had to do, and the players were confident in what they could do.”
Coming off a 3-2 OT loss in Game 6, host Grandview held the hammer in the deciding game, as each team won on home ice.
Joseph Santalucia, on a setup from Keito Lee, opened the scoring 1:57 into the game, followed 10 minutes later when Huemmert netted his first of two.
Richmond’s Connor Alderson converted a powerplay opportunity early in the second, but Huemmert responded 73 seconds later when he buried a second-chance shot past Sockeyes’ goalie Merek Pipes. It was his fifth goal of the series.
Richmond pulled to within a goal with 1:02 left in the game, but Paler-Chow held down the fort.
Now Grandview faces
Delta in a series that starts tonight (Wednesday) at 8 p.m. in Ladner.
“(Delta’s) a good team, and we’re a good team,” said Matic. “We played them tight all season and I expect it will be a close series.”
Game 2 goes Sunday, 4 p.m. at the Burnaby Winter Club.
