The Tahoe Knight Monsters returned to the ice on Sunday afternoon for their third game of the 2025-26 season, taking on a familiar opponent, the Idaho Steelheads at the Tahoe Blue Event Center. The puck dropped at 3:00 PM as these two teams faced off for the third time in a row. Tahoe entered the matchup with a 1-1-0 record, looking to bounce back after a tough 4-6 loss to Idaho the night before. The Steelheads also came into the contest sitting at 1-1-0, setting the stage for another competitive battle. Heading into Sunday’s game, the all-time series between the two clubs stood at 8-6-0, with their most recent clash taking place just a day earlier on October 18, 2025.
Game three of the season was set up to be a thrilling showdown as both teams looked to build on their early successes. With each side earning a win in the first two games of the three-game series, the stakes were high and the emotions even higher. The first two matchups had been packed with offense, keeping fans on the edge of their seats and expectations were no different heading into Sunday’s contest. Both squads were hungry not just for another victory, but for the chance to seize early-season momentum and set the tone for the battles still to come.
Between the pipes, it was a familiar matchup as both teams turned to their go-to goalies. For the Tahoe Knight Monsters, #39 Cameron Whitehead got the start in net, making his second appearance of the young season. On the other side, the Idaho Steelheads relied on #33 Nolan Maier, who was also making his second start of the year. With both netminders looking to find their rhythm early in the season, which one would rise to the occasion in this pivotal game.
The opening period brought no shortage of drama. Just eight minutes into the game, Idaho’s #81 Charlie Dodero was sent off the ice after a roster mix-up revealed he was an ineligible player, resulting in an early ejection for the Idaho Steelheads defenseman. Moments later, tempers flared when Samuel Mayer of the Knight Monsters was called for slashing, while Nick Canade of Idaho picked up a roughing penalty during the same sequence. With five minutes remaining, #92 Sloan Stanick lit the lamp, putting Tahoe on the board with assists from #26 Nate Kallen and #94 Kevin Wall. The goal gave the Knight Monsters a 1-0 lead and sent the home crowd roaring.
The intensity ramped up late in the first period as emotions boiled over between Samuel Mayer of the Knight Monsters and Robbie Holmes of the Steelheads. With less than three minutes remaining, the two dropped the gloves in a spirited fight that brought the crowd to its feet. Both players were handed five-minute majors for fighting, setting a physical tone for the rest of the night. Not long after, the Knight Monsters added to their momentum. With under two minutes left in the period, #25 Casey Bailey buried a shot to extend Tahoe’s lead to 2-0, assisted once again by #94 Kevin Wall. The goal capped off what should have been a dominant first period for the home team as they headed into the break.
With less than a minute remaining in the opening period, the Idaho Steelheads finally broke through to get on the board. #11 Ayrton Martino found the back of the net, cutting into Tahoe’s lead and giving Idaho a much-needed boost before the intermission. The goal was set up by #14 Connot Punnett and #25 Liam Malmquist, who worked the puck beautifully to create the scoring chance. The Knight Monsters held a 2-1 advantage, but Idaho’s late goal shifted the momentum.
In the final seconds of the first period, the Idaho Steelheads struck again to even things up. With less than thirty seconds on the clock, #25 Liam Malmquist buried the tying goal, completing a late surge that stunned the Tahoe crowd. The play was set up by #11 Ayrton Martino and #5 Tommy Bergsland, who connected to create the scoring opportunity. What looked like a comfortable 2-0 lead for Tahoe moments earlier had suddenly vanished.
After an action-packed opening twenty minutes, the teams headed to the locker rooms deadlocked at 2-2. What began as a strong start for the Knight Monsters quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle, as Idaho clawed its way back with two late goals to erase Tahoe’s early lead. The stage was set for an intense second period with momentum hanging in the balance.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters came out flying to start the second period, wasting no time reclaiming control of the game. Just three minutes in, #95 Samuel Mayer put Tahoe back on top with a beautiful shot, assisted by #25 Casey Bailey and #92 Sloan Stanick.
The momentum didn’t stop there, on the very next play, #94 Kevin Wall found the back of the net, extending the Knight Monsters lead to two goals with help from #95 Samuel Mayer and #4 Olivier LeBlanc.
The Tahoe offense continued to surge as #76 Trent Swick added another goal moments later, assisted by #92 Sloan Stanick, giving the Knight Monsters a commanding three-goal advantage. In an incredible offensive burst, Tahoe had scored three times in under a minute, stunning the Steelheads and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
After Tahoe’s explosive trio of goals early in the second period, the Idaho Steelheads quickly called a timeout to regroup and try to slow the Knight Monsters momentum. But just a few minutes later, chaos erupted on the ice. About nine minutes into the frame, Brennan Kapcheck of the Knight Monsters was battling hard for the puck when he was assessed a delayed penalty for tripping. As play continued, Kapcheck caught an Idaho player up high while fighting for the puck, earning himself a second infraction. Before he could even turn around, Ty Pelton-Byce of the Steelheads struck Kapcheck in the head with his stick, sparking a full-on scrum as players from both sides grabbed partners and tempers flared. Kapcheck was slow to get up and skated off the ice immediately following the incident. When the dust settled, the officials handed out multiple penalties. Kapcheck received calls for tripping and elbowing, while Pelton-Byce was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking, capping off one of the wildest sequences of the night.
With nine minutes remaining in the second period, Idaho’s Connor Punnett was called for tripping, giving the Knight Monsters another power-play opportunity. However, the Steelheads managed to weather the storm and keep Tahoe from extending their lead. As the period wound down, Idaho found a spark of their own. With under a minute left on the clock, #3 Nick Canade buried a late goal off a setup from #13 Francesco Arcuri, cutting into Tahoe’s advantage.
Despite the late push, the Knight Monsters still held control as they headed into the second intermission with a 5-3 lead.
Just a minute into the third period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters found themselves in some early trouble. Cody Laskosky was sent to the box for a high-sticking infraction, earning a four-minute major and giving Idaho a golden opportunity to swing the momentum. The Steelheads capitalized on the extended power play. Around the five-minute mark, #32 Robbie Holmes buried a shot to pull Idaho closer on the scoreboard. The goal was the result of sharp passing from #5 Tommy Bergsland and even goaltender #33 Nolan Maier, who earned an assist on the play. The tally gave the Steelheads new life as they pressed to complete their comeback in the final frame.
Seven minutes into the third period, the Idaho Steelheads completed their comeback to tie the game. #9 Brendan Hoffmann found the back of the net, capping off Idaho’s surge and erasing what was once a three-goal deficit. The goal was set up by #20 Nick Portz and #21 Mason Nevers, who worked the puck perfectly to create the scoring chance. With the game now even, the intensity on the ice ramped up as both teams battled to regain control in a tense final stretch.
With under nine minutes left in regulation, the Tahoe Knight Monsters ran into more penalty trouble when Samuel Mayer was called for holding, sending Idaho to the power play. The Steelheads wasted little time taking advantage. On the ensuing man advantage, #9 Brendan Hoffmann struck again, finding the back of the net to give Idaho its first lead of the night. #7 Mitch Wahl and #6 Jeff Baum picked up the assists on the go-ahead goal, as the Steelheads completed an impressive turnaround and shifted the momentum firmly in their favor late in the game.
With less than five minutes to play, the Tahoe Knight Monsters comeback hopes took another hit when Casey Bailey was called for interference, putting Idaho back on the power play. As the clock wound down, Tahoe pulled their goalie in a last-ditch effort to even the score, but despite generating pressure, they couldn’t capitalize with the extra attacker. The Steelheads, meanwhile, came close to sealing the game with an empty-netter but couldn’t find the mark. In the final moments, Casey Bailey picked up another penalty for boarding, capping off a frustrating finish for the Knight Monsters. When the final horn sounded, the Idaho Steelheads emerged victorious with a 6-5 win, completing their comeback and taking the series.
https://echl.com/videos/idaho-steelheads-vs-tahoe-knight-monsters-oct-19-2025
The first period of the game was filled with intensity and physicality, with a couple of near fights setting the tone early. The Tahoe Knight Monsters jumped out to a lead but struggled to hold onto it as the period went on. Despite dominating play in the second period, Tahoe couldn’t completely shut down the Idaho Steelheads. Idaho’s timeout proved to be a turning point, it allowed their goaltender to regroup, and shifted the momentum in their favor. The loss of Brennan Kapcheck after his injury had a noticeable impact on Tahoe’s defensive structure, and although the Knight Monsters generated strong offensive zone pressure late in the second, a costly turnover and lack of organization led to a crucial Idaho goal. By the third period, Tahoe needed to lock things down defensively, but breakdowns in coverage and slow reactions to loose pucks proved costly. The Steelheads capitalized on Tahoe’s mistakes, and even though Idaho’s fifth goal went under review, it ultimately stood. The Knight Monsters didn’t provide enough support for their goaltender, and their play seemed to fade in the final minutes of each period. Soft penalty calls in the third only added to the frustration as Tahoe’s discipline slipped. While Samuel Mayer earned himself a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (recording a goal, an assist, and a fight) the overall performance left much to be desired. After a strong showing in the first game of the series, Idaho made the right adjustments, while Tahoe failed to respond. In both the second and third games, the Knight Monsters couldn’t sustain their early energy, struggled defensively, and stopped playing with the same intensity late in each period, ultimately costing them the series.
The Idaho Steelheads narrowly outshot the Tahoe Knight Monsters 36 to 34 in what was a tightly contested game on the stat sheet. Idaho made the most of their chances, finishing with a higher shooting percentage than Tahoe. The Steelheads also earned two more power-play opportunities, which proved to be key in shifting the game’s momentum. Despite spending more time in the penalty box with three additional minutes, Idaho’s special teams and goaltending made the difference. While the Knight Monsters recorded one more save overall, the Steelheads netminder posted the better save percentage, a reflection of Idaho’s ability to capitalize on key moments.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters now sit at 1-2-0 to start the 2025-26 season, earning two points through their first three games. The early results place Tahoe 20th overall in the ECHL standings. Within the Western Conference, the Knight Monsters currently hold 7th place, and in the Mountain Division, they sit 4th. It’s still early in the season, but Tahoe will be looking to climb the standings quickly as they work to find consistency and build on their strong stretches of play.
Up next, the Tahoe Knight Monsters hit the road for a two-game series against the Tulsa Oilers. The teams will face off in Tulsa on Friday and Sunday, marking Tahoe’s first trip away from home this season. After a tough battle with Idaho, the Knight Monsters will be looking to bounce back and pick up valuable points on the road.
Zac Electrifly 
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