Nick Kerr waited until the third period of his fourth game with the St. Albert Steel to make an impact.
The 19-year-old right winger struck twice in 14 seconds in the 6-4 Alberta Junior Hockey League loss to the Calgary Mustangs last Saturday in St. Albert. The newcomer from Penticton, B.C also assisted on Colten Meaver’s goal as the Steel tried to rally from a 6-1 deficit after 40 minutes.
“It felt pretty good to get some offensive production,” Kerr said. “Basically I got the puck in front of the net and just shot it and it went in.”
He was pointless with the Steel before discovering his scoring touch on a line with Meaver and Jamie Johnson.
“They were kind of shifting me around that game until they put the three of us together,” Kerr said. “If I get the opportunity I can score, but I’m not a huge offensive producer.”
His three-point night was a big confidence booster after joining the Steel from the Wenatchee Wild of the North American Hockey League.
“It was pretty nice feeling.”
The Wild released Kerr after a scoreless two-game stint.
“I was actually sick for two weeks and I really hadn’t been on the ice so I kind of came here a little out of shape. The first couple of games were a little rough, but I’ve started to feel better.”
The six-foot-two, 215-pound skater is more a grinder than an offensive threat.
“I try to be really physical and put the goals in when I can and get some energy going on the team.”
St. Albert is the latest stop for the much-travelled Kerr. After spending his midget years at the Okanagan Hockey Academy, he played junior B in Penticton before splitting last season with the Quesnell Millionaires and Vernon Vipers in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League and the Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL. In 25 games with Olds he had three goals, seven points and 30 penalty minutes.
“I had hip surgery that year so that put me back a little bit,” Kerr said. “I started this year off with Wenatchee, but it just didn’t work out and I’m happy to be here. It seems like a nice town.”
The Steel were 1-3 with Kerr in the line-up, and 2-11-2 overall for last place in the north division, before Friday’s home game against Olds (6-11). The score was unavailable at press time.
The Steel were coming off a disappointing effort against the Mustangs (6-9-2) to start a five-game home stand. They outshot the visitors 51-30 but gave up six unanswered goals, including three on the power play.
“After that quick goal in the first period by us we just kind of fell apart. Once the momentum starts going that way it’s hard to stop,” Kerr said. “There was a bit of a bright note with the third period [three Steel goals on 20 shots] but besides that it wasn’t very good. It wasn’t a very happy team after the game.”
The Steel are in danger of falling out of contention for the seventh and last playoff berth in the north.
“We’re going though a bit of a rough patch right now but things should turn around,” Kerr said. “We’re going to have to keep it simple and work hard and good things will happen eventually.”
The Steel host the south-division leading Brooks Bandits (12-0-3) Sunday at 2 p.m. at Performance Arena.
