Boomhower’s first OHL goal comes in Steelheads loss

Rookie provides silver lining in 4-1 defeat to Windsor

Rookie, Shaw Boomhower was the lone bright spot for the Mississauga Steelheads in a 4-1 loss to the Windsor Spitfires. He scored his first career OHL goal. Kyle Morrison/Toronto Observer

When the final whistle sounded, the Mississauga Steelheads box score read that 20 penalty minutes led to four goals en route to a 4-1 loss against the Windsor Spitfires.

But Shaw Boomhower’s score sheet tells a different tale.

You will see one goal next to his name – the first of his OHL career.

Teammates,

Mississauga Steelheads, Scoley Dow (17) and Stefan LeBlanc (23) celebrate with Shaw Boomhower (15) after his first OHL goal. (KYLE MORRISON/TORONTO OBSERVER)

“It feels amazing,” Boomhower said, afterwards. “I’ve definitely scored a couple goals in junior A, but it’s nothing like that. It’s a different environment and I’m really proud.”

After controlling much of the play to begin the game, Steelheads winger,Brendan Harrogate took a high-sticking minor with 5:03 left in the first period and the flood gates opened for Windsor.

Cole Purboo scored his fourth of the season, followed by Cole Carter and Aaron Luchuk’s third goals of the season on the power play in the span of three minutes.

After Carter’s second powerplay marker of the game, Boomhower answered for Mississauga with his first career goal in the second period. He crashed the net and poked the puck through Windsor’s Mario Culina to bring life back into the home crowd at the Hershey Centre.

“(After scoring my first goal) I look to my coaches back in Wellington, Ryan Woodward and Marty Abrams. They’ve definitely helped me throughout the years and got me to this stage,” Boomhower said. “This goal is for them and for my parents.”

The beginning of the season has been a whirlwind for the 17-year-old as the native of Wellington, Ont., signed with the Steelheads as a walk-on and came into training camp not knowing exactly what his role would be.

“It’s been pretty hectic, this being my first year away from home and it’s been hard work, but I love it and I love being at the arena,” he said. “I just have to put in the hours and I’ll continue to get results.”

Boomhower is trying to be a two-way role player and do whatever is asked of him. But with the absence of captain Mike McLeod due to NHL training camp, he played meaningful minutes against Windsor and capitalized on the opportunity.

“(Being in the OHL) has been what I’ve wanted for a long time. When I was younger I always used to say, ‘Where do you want to be?’ and I would always say the Belleville Bulls, but Mississauga is even better and out there I know I’ve finally made it to the OHL so that will help me keep going,” he said. “Just knowing that I’ve kind of made it really helps me out there.”

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Posted: Oct 1 2016 9:53 am
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