Erie Exorcises Sleeman Centre Demons for First Win at Guelph in Four Years to Snap Five-Game Skid
Guelph, Ontario – The final trip of the season to the Sleeman Centre would see the Erie Otters battle the Guelph Storm for the second of three times in the month of February. Erie hosted Guelph during the annual School Day Game to open the month, winning an impressive decision 3-0. In the penultimate meeting of the year, the Otters would not only look to snap a five-game regulation losing skid, but also attempt to put an end to a woeful stretch in the Sleeman Centre, with the team’s last win at Guelph coming over four years ago.
Erie would look like a team playing with purpose to start the game, and proved they were. Dominating shots 15-6, Erie would pepper Guelph goaltender Brayden Gillespie through the opening 20, and score the lone goal of the frame. On a drive to the net front, Bruce McDonald (12) would strike just 3:09 into the contest to put Erie up 1-0. The Otters would kill of a penalty in the frame as well to take a 1-0 lead out of the opening frame in Guelph.
Looking to reestablish their usual dominance on home ice, Guelph would open scoring in the second period as Charlie Paquette (14) would fire one from the hashmarks past Jacob Gibbons just 2:25 into the frame. Erie would once again take over from this moment – outshooting the Storm 12-6 down the stretch. Erie would pick up a pair of goals in the second period, as Carey Terrance (27, SHG) would collect his fifth shorthanded goal of the season to put Erie on top 2-1 with 7:39 gone by. This shorthanded goal would put Terrance back on top for team shorthanded goals, and continue his SHG rise in the OHL. With a bad turnover from Rylan Singh on a breakout pass, Brett Bressette would fire an open shot on net that Dylan Edwards (11) would put home for his golden-goal. A 25-12 shot advantage and a 3-1 lead after 40 would have Erie in prime position to close the game out in the final 20.
On a five-on-three to start the third period, Erie would find a successful kill to finish their PK night 4/4. The Storm would continue to do just enough to stick around in the game, as Hunter McKenzie (5) would open final period scoring with 2:21 gone, making it a 3-2 game. The game would remain this way for the near entirety of the final period, as the Otters would find their heaviest shooting period of the night, 15-5. With the net empty late in the game, Martin Misiak (17, ENG) would put the game on ice as the Otters would collect their first win at Guelph since February 5, 2020, and snap a five-game slide. Erie would take the win 4-2, and dominate the game’s shots 40-17.
The Erie Otters return home on Saturday evening for the highly-anticipated Mascot Mania (pres. by Chick-fil-A) to celebrate Otto’s birthday party with all his friends! The first 1500 fans in the arena will receive an Otto Bobblehead (pres. by Rebich Investments). The “week” closes for Erie on Monday afternoon for Canada’s Family Day, making their only trip of the season to Brantford against the Bulldogs. The conclusion of Monday’s game will close out a stretch of 13 games in 19 days for the Otters, and give them a reprieve before their next game on Saturday, February 24.
