Goalie Remington Steele belies size, catapults Canada into gold medal match against U.S.
A rising sophomore at Robert Morris, Remmington Steele has captured the fancy of spectators, and opponents have marveled at someone so physically unassuming could master the sport’s most visible role with such reckless abandon.
“Through high school, I had college coaches tell me, ‘You’re quick, but 5-4, I don’t think we can do that.’ It definitely could be down side, but you can also use it to your advantage,” said Steele, a Hillcrest (Texas) High School graduate. “I show a lot of net there. If I’m quick enough, I can take it away.”
Steele might be a paperweight compared to the Canadian defensemen that helped him shut down the vaunted United States for three quarters. With three close defensemen 6-foot-3 or taller - including 6-6, 210-pound behemoth Brock Sorenson - Canada pushed the lightning-legged Americans to the limit late in the rivals’ round-robin encounter last Sunday.
But when they folded like a paper football, Steele still produced. Even Craig Dowd’s game-tying goal with 26 seconds remaining came off a Steele save.
Team USA escaped with a 16-15 overtime win after a furious fourth-quarter comeback erased a seven-goal deficit. Steele stood on his head for 22 saves.
Steele added 15 saves Thursday in Canada’s 23-12 victory over the Iroquois, which ensured a U.S.-Canada gold medal game for the third time in as many U-19 championships. They’ll meet Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Pacific.
