A Storm In Owen Sound
Our OHL Midwest Division rival Guelph Storm were guests of our Attack Saturday night. What amounted to a “four point” game with the Storm holding games-in-hand. Scott Stajcer started in net for our Attack. Garret Sparks for the Storm. The Referee’s were Jason Faist and Seth Ferguson.
Final score Guelph 3 – Owen Sound 2. Final shots on net 40-28 Attack. The Attack were 1 for 5 on the PP. The Storm 2 for 5.
Once again, Attack Head Coach Greg Ireland was unable to dress 18 skaters. Kyle Hope was a scratch after some late in the game issues in Kitchener Friday night. On the plus side, Artur Gavrus was in the Attack line-up.
The Attack held a lot of the play this game, starting right from the get go. The Storm didn’t put a shot on Scott Stajcer till the 9:30 mark. Our boys had pumped Sparks with 10 shots by then. But this looked like it could be a chippy game. Big Guelph defenceman Andrey Pedan added to his 100+ penalty minute total with a cross-checking minor 3:52 into the game and then at 6:12 underage Tyler Bertuzzi hit Attack defenceman Brayden Rose from behind sending his helmut flying.
Captain Mike Halmo opened the scoring with his 30th of the season at 11:02. A nice drive to the net from the right corner with Jay Gilbert and Daniel Catenacci assisting. Mike ended up in the Guelph net. 1-0 after one period of play with the Attack outshooting the Storm 17-6. Our Attack had three PP opportunities. The Storm zero.
With Mike Halmo in the penalty box for a holding minor and a 10 minute misconduct, Keevin Cutting was unlucky enough to lift the puck out of play from behind his own blueline and the resulting minor put the Attack down two skaters for up to a minute and 42 seconds at 8:25 of period two. Zach Mitchell finished a nice three way passing triangle with his 25th of the season at 9:14. Then a shot wide from the right point bounced out front of the Attack net to a waiting Scott Kosmachuk. His PP goal at 9:55 was his 21st of the season. 2-1 Storm after two periods of play. Halmo was awarded a holding the stick minor and a 10 minute misconduct at 8:07. At 11:35 Daniel Catenacci left the game with a slew footing match penalty. Our Attack were handed 3 minor penalties and 3 major penalties in the second. The Storm, one fighting major.
Scott Kosmachuk added to the Guelph lead with his 2nd of the game at 3:20 of the third. Underage Jason Dickinson tried to wrap the puck by Stajcer clockwise. Scott made the save, but a rebound went to a waiting Kosmachuk for his 22nd. The Attack looked mentally tired and it was clear that Daniel Catenacci is a big piece of the Attack pie and without him available, the boys were in tough.
Things could have gotten out of control at 13:29. With Scott Stajcer watching the puck behind his own net, Storm forward Ryan Horvat caught him in the back of the head with an elbow. Scott chased after him but could not get there. Things were kept under control. Horvat’s antics put his team down a man and Jay Gilbert made them pay with a rocket of a one-timer high over the shortside, stick side of Sparks at 13:50. Artur Gavrus set up Jay with a nice cross-ice pass. Chris Bigras also assisted. Mike Halmo had a near breakaway chance, but was hauled down at 18:29. The Attack had the man advantage and Stajcer pulled, but were unable to beat Sparks.
The Storm improved their record to 21-19-2-3 for 47 points and are on a 3 game winning streak. Our Attack are now 22-20-2-4, good for 50 points and now looking to stop a 4 game losing streak.
The 3 Stars of the Game were:
1st Star – Garret Sparks with 38 saves.
2nd Star – Jay Gilbert with a goal and an assist.
3rd Star – Scott Kosmachuk with 2 goals including the game winner.
The Dickie’s Clothing Hardest Working Attacker of the Game was Brayden Rose.
The Kelsey’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill Attacker of the Game was Jay Gilbert.
Sunday, January 29nd, one of the contending teams from the OHL Eastern Conference, the Ottawa 67’s, make their only regular season visit to Owen Sound. Game time at the J.D. McArthur Arena is 2:00 p.m.
Don’t miss it !
The Attack box office is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday game days 10:00 a.m. through to the end of the second intermission. Wednesday games 8:30 a.m. through to the end of the second intermission.
Phone orders at 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK.
Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com.
