Soo stifled by Storm defensive game
by Peter Ruicci (Independent Media) | Photo by Bob Davies
FULL PHOTO GALLERY | GAME HIGHLIGHTS | GAME CENTRE
Unable to be a sufficient threat offensively on Friday, the Soo Greyhounds fell 4-3 to the Guelph Storm in front of 3,412 at GFL Memorial Gardens.
“We knew coming in they’re tough to play against and we needed to generate more chances,” said Hounds captain Travis Hayes, whose club was outshot 18-5 in the second period, 11-4 in the third and 35-17 overall.
Tight and tidy is the best way to describe Guelph’s defensive effort as the No. 3 ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League won its 11th in the last 12, improving to 11-3-0-0.
“Especially in the second and third, we didn’t generate a lot,” added Soo head coach Drew Bannister, whose club will take a 10-5-1-0 record into Sunday’s 2 p.m. home-ice start against the London Knights (9-3-1-1). “Guelph’s defence did a real good job getting back to pucks first, and they’re big and they can skate.”
The Soo coach also spoke of how, despite a strong first period, his team committed some turnovers late in the frame.
“And that kind of continued in the second and a little in the third,” Bannister added. “That took some of our momentum away where we were arriving late on the forecheck.”
“They got out of their own zone quickly,” said Hounds centre Quinn McKenzie, whose team surrendered the first two goals of the decisive third period, and trailed 4-2 going into the final minute of regulation. “We needed to play a full 60.”
With the score tied 2-2, the Storm notched its second power-play tally at 5:12 of the third.
Ryan Roobroeck made a pass from the left wing to Tyler Hopkins in the right circle. His feed in front was redirected past Landon Miller by Ethan Czata for a 3-2 advantage.
Just under 11 minutes later, Rowan Topp fired wide from the right point. His shot hit the end boards and deflected right to Hopkins on the left side of the Soo goal. He banged home the rebound for a 4-2 lead.
But with Miller on the bench for a sixth attacker, Jeremy Martin, off a McKenzie feed, made it 4-3 with 48.1 seconds remaining.
On this night, the Hounds could get no closer.
With the score 3-2, the home side had a powerplay midway through the third when Guelph was whistled for too many men.
But the Greyhounds failed to generate a shot.
“Those are critical moments when the powerplay has to step up,” said Bannister. “We didn’t do that tonight.”
“I thought we played extremely well,” said Storm head coach Cory Stillman, whose club will play host to the 2027 Memorial Cup. “If you give the Soo opportunities to score, they will capitalize. We did a good job managing the puck and being over their players.”
Hayes opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period. Storm netminder Ben Hrebik made a pad save on Noah Laus and Hayes tucked in the rebound.
Less than four minutes later, with the visitors on the powerplay, Miller made back-to-back saves in tight before Illia Shybinskyi finally knocked the puck in.
Guelph converted a 2-on-1 at 14:49 of the second period. A Carter Stevens shot from the right circle got past Miller high to the glove side.
But Hayes, with his second of the night and seventh of the season, tied it at 16:37. With the Soo shorthanded, McKenzie fed it ahead and the captain went high stick side on Hrebik.
Hopkins finished with a goal and two assists for the winners while Czata had a goal and an assist.
“We weren’t at our best tonight, but we stuck right with them,” said Hayes. “That shows the kind of group we have in here.”
“The positive is that this was a one-goal game against the third-ranked team in the country,” added McKenzie, who notched three assists on the night.
Hayes, McKenzie and Bannister all spoke of how well Miller performed. The overage was especially effective in the second period.
“Landon played really well,” Bannister said. “I would have liked for us to play better in front of him, especially in the second and third periods.”
The coach agreed this was one of Miller’s best showings this season.
“He was amazing,” added Hayes, who went on to say the Hounds “shot ourselves in the foot with our discipline.”
Guelph was 2-for-5 with the man advantage while the Soo was 1-for-4.
Notes:
Bannister said he’ll likely turn to rookie netminder David Vermirovsky to make the start against the Knights.
