Attack Down Storm 6-4
The Owen Sound Attack went into Wednesday night looking for a crucial two points against their Midwest division rivals the Guelph Storm and did just that, 6-4. Landen Hookey and Sam McCue led the way offensively for the Attack with Hookey registering his second hat trick of the season and McCue tallying a goal and 3 assists. Also on the scoresheet for the Bears were Bruce McDonald and Ben Cormier, while Matthew Koprowski made 26 saves in the win. Vilmer Alriksson had two goals for the Storm while Charlie Paquette and Quinn Beauchesne each had a goal in the loss.
The first period was much like every period so far in the season series with both teams battling for every inch on the ice. Just over 8 minutes into the game when Parker Snelgrove thought he had opened the scoring for Guelph, but had his goal called back due to the play being offside on one entry. Right after aa steady parade to the penalty box ensued, with neither team able to capitalize until Vlimer Alriksson beat Koprowski to make it 1-0 with 3 minutes to play, a score that would hold until the break.
After a relatively quiet opening frame, the Attack and Storm combined for six second period goals. Sam McCue got the Attack on the board just over a minute into the period when he took the back half of a give and go passing play from James Petrovksi and rifled it home past Brayden Gillespie to knot the game at 1. Then just a minute later Bruce McDonald put the Attack in the lead when he took the rebound and wrapped it around beating Gillespie to the far post making it 2-1. Just before the midway point of the period the Attack would extend their lead to two goals, when Ben Cormier dove after a rebound while on the power play poking it past Gillespie, making it 3-1. Not three minutes later, the Storm would cut the Attack lead to one with a power play goal of their own off the stick of Alriksson, his second of the game. Both teams were not done there, Landen Hookey extended the Attack lead again with 3 minutes to play when converted on a rebound off the post by McCue to make it 4-2. Unfortunately, Guelph once again cut the lead to one this time off the stick of Charlie Paquette with 28-seconds left in the period, bringing the score to 4-3 heading into the break.
After an offensive middle period, the two teams seemed to be holding back a bit early in the third, not wanting to make a mistake that will give their opponent any advantage. Five minutes in Guelph came close, hitting the crossbar, but five minutes later they would not miss the Beauchesne finished off the cross ice pass for his third of the year and game tying goal. Like they have done all season long, the Attack immediately pushed back and a minute and a half later Hookey was rewarded tapping home a loose puck in the crease for his second of the night and putting the Attack back up by one, 5-4 with 9 minutes to play. Hookey would complete the hat trick, his second of the year, with 27 seconds on the clock, tapping home a pass from McCue who out hustled the Guelph player to beat out the icing and win the puck, making the final 6-4 Attack.
Up next for the Attack is two game road trip, first taking on the Sarnia Sting on Friday night, then the Flint Firebirds on Saturday night. Both games can be streamed on CHLtv and heard on 560 CFOS Bear Radio, while Friday’s game can also be seen on Rogers Television. After that the Attack will close the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule at home against the Barrie Colts on Wednesday, December 18 at 7pm. Tickets for all Attack home games are available for purchase at the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com.
