Attack Fall 4-2 to Storm in Season Opener
The Owen Sound Attack opened the 2023-24 OHL regular season with a 4-2 loss to the Guelph Storm on Friday Night. Overage forward Deni Goure had a pair of goals for that Attack in the loss.
The Attack and Storm exchanged opportunities early in the first period, but unfortunately for the Attack it was Guelph that opened the scoring. Storm defender Michael Buchinger capitalized on an Attack miscue along the side board and buried the puck over the blocker of Corbin Votary. The Attack and Storm then exchanged power play opportunities with neither team able to capitalize. Late in the period the Storm were gifted a high quality scoring opportunity when Attack defensemen Madden Steen ran into the referee. This left the puck open for rookie Leo Serlin, who netted in first OHL goal to make it 2-0.
Both teams seemed to relax a bit as the second period got under way with the play opening up and the teams exchanging opportunities. The Attack garnered an early powerplay, but could not convert. However, the Bears were not denied for much longer when Deni Goure cut the Storm lead in half to 2-1. Unfortunately, for the Attack just over two minutes later the bad bounces continued when Sam Sedley attempted to make a pass from the just above the goal line and it hit Serlin’s skate and went directly into the net, restoring Guelph’s two goal lead. A little over 3 minutes later Storm forward Jake Karabela had a chance to extend the lead. He was taken down by the Attack defenders after being sprung on a breakaway resulting in a penalty shot. On the penalty shot, Karabela tried to sell the head fake on Votary but he would not bite and make the save, keeping the score at 3-1.
The third period kicked off with a quick goal off the stick of Guelph captain Braeden Bowman who slapped home a rebound off the pad of Corbin Votary. The Attack would answer back with just over 5 minutes to go when Deni Goure buried his second of the game to cut the Storm lead in half at 4-2. The Bears continued to push but were unable to capitalize on a 6-on-4 situation with a Guelph penalty and Votary pulled for the extra attacker to finish the game.
Up next for the Attack is a meeting with their highway 26 rival the Barrie Colts in the Attack’s home opener on Saturday night. Puck drop at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre is 7:00pm. The MacVicar and McComb Sutton Realty Attack box office will open at 10am on Saturday and can be purchased in person or by phone at 519-371-7452. Tickets can also be purchased online at tickets.attackhockey.com.
