Erie, Pennsylvania – The first home game of 2023 would bring the Erie Otters home to faceoff against their first foe of the year from Friday night, the Guelph Storm. After a crushing 7-2 loss the night before, Erie would hope that some homecooking would put the team back in the home-win column for the first time since December 3, 2022.

As it would turn out, being home what just what the Otters needed for the holidays. Just past the halfway mark of the first period, Erie would find themselves up 3-0 as Pano Fimis (9) would score his first goal as an Otter, Noah Sedore (8) would grab his third goal in five games, and Colby Saganiuk (6) would grab a goal on the team’s first power play. The period would end with a goal for Guelph, as Braeden Bowman (9) would get goals in back-to-back nights against Erie. The Otters would dominate in the opening frame, taking a 3-1 lead and 13-5 shot advantage in their favor.

The late goal in period one would turn into momentum for period two for Guelph, as the Storm would grab the lone goals of the frame. Braeden Bowman (10) would grab his third goal of the weekend to make it a one goal game just 1:11 into the period, and late in the frame it would be Michael Buchinger (6) to knot things up 17:32 in. After 40 minutes of play, Erie would be in a 3-3 game, still outshooting Guelph 17-13.

Things seemed optimistic to start the third period, as the Erie Otters would grab a power play opportunity just over three minutes into the frame. However, with the net empty on the delayed power play, a deflection of an Otter stick would lead to an empty-net goal in favor of the Guelph Storm, as Hunter McKenzie (2) would receive credit for the goal. Erie would be unable to come back from the “own”-goal, as they would fall in the contest 4-3 for their third-straight loss. Erie would outshoot Guelph 25-19 in the game.

The year-opening three-in-three weekend comes to a close on Sunday afternoon, as the Erie Otters host the upstart Sarnia Sting at 2 P.M. for Sunday Family Funday. The first 500 kids through the door will receive a free pop/water & popcorn as well as the 2022-23 Erie Otters Team Card Set (pres. by Highmark Health / AHN St. Vincent).