Back-to-back wins open the Steelheads’ first season in Brampton

The Steelheads opened their first season in a new hometown with a pair of wins including one on home ice in Brampton.

The newly-christened Brampton Steelheads moved the team earlier this year after more than two decades in Mississauga, welcoming hockey fans to Brampton’s CAA Centre for their season opener against the Brantford Bulldogs on Friday.

Brampton’s new Ontario Hockey League team didn’t disappoint as fans were treated to a 7-0 win by the team of up-and-comers.

Goaltender Jack Ivankovic made 21 saves and earned the shutout as the Steelheads blitzed the visiting Bulldogs, with William Eggleton, Luke Misa, Angus MacDonell, Spencer Sova, Gabriel Chiarot, Porter Martone and Carson Rehkopf all scoring once for the Brampton club.

At the opposite end of the rink, Bulldogs’ netminder Ryerson Leenders saved 30 of 37 shots that peppered the goal.

Then on Saturday, the team got on the bus for a road game against the Erie Otters at the Erie Insurance Arena.

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Rehkopf and MacDonell tallied more points again on Saturday with a goal each against the Otters, while Lucas Karmiris, MacGregor Richmond and Adam Zidlicky also scored for the Steelheads bringing the team to another win at 5-2.

Malcolm Spence and Sam Alfano scored the only goals for the Otters. The team’s next game is on Thursday against the Barrie Colts.

The Steelheads’ move brings hockey action back to Brampton after more than a decade following the Brampton Battalion’s departure for North Bay in 2013.

Insauga.com has previously reported one reason for the move could be a rent hike from the City of Mississauga.

The city and the Steelheads have been discussing an extended lease, but in the end Brampton came up with a deal the team couldn’t turn down, according to sources.

The team unveiled the new Brampton Steelheads logo and jersey at City Hall this summer with Mayor Patrick Brown calling the team’s move “a significant moment for Brampton, the larger community in Peel Region and beyond.”