LUKE Ferrara came back to haunt his former Sheffield Steelers bench by posting a faultless hat-trick in Blaze’s latest pre-season contest.
Despite missing out by a goal against the Steelers just 24-hours earlier, a depleted Blaze side put eight goals past Brad Day’s net.
Missing Paquette, Ladd, Vallerand, Lake, and Noble, Danny Stewart’s men rose to the challenge – stamping their authority on the game mid-way through the second period.
Steelers, though, made life at the Skydome harder for themselves – missing several clear cut chances while through on goal.
In front of another sizable pre-season crowd, Ferrara wasted no time in putting Steelers on the back foot – scoring Blaze’s first goal after just two minutes.
The British skater doubled his tally 11 minutes later during a Blaze powerplay after the home side killed a couple of penalties of their own.
But a bizarre own goal shortly before the conclusion of the opening period saw Steelers find a way back into the game when Brett Robinson miscued a aerial puck which rebounded off the backboard.
New recruit Vojtech Kloz then punched Steelers’ Brady Ramsay to the ice when the pair dropped the gloves on 29 minutes.
Kloz’s win provided the catalyst needed for Blaze to put the game beyond Steelers’ reach.
After Ferrera registered his hat-trick on 32 minutes, skipper Jordan Pietrus, Gaelan Patterson, and Ross Venus chipped in with markers of their own as Blaze ended the second period with a 6-2 lead.
Hard working Edgars Bebris made it a magnificent seven for Blaze two minutes into the third period while at the other end back-up netminder Brython Preece earned more minutes.
An eighth Blaze goal was registered two minutes from time when a well-worked attacking move ended in Brett Robinson scoring with half a goal gaping in front of him following a cross-ice pass from Ferrara.
