Jett Luchanko Scores OT Winner As Guelph Beats Sarnia 3-2
By Carl Chimenti
The Sarnia Sting did all they could to secure a point in the race to make the playoffs, but fell one goal short in losing to the Guelph Storm 3-2 in overtime Friday night, at the Sleeman Centre.
Luchanko turned on his name Jett, to score on a great individual effort with 37.7 seconds remaining in the extra session. Luchanko like Sarnia’s Lukas Fischer, back from the 2024 KubotaCHL/NHL Top Prospects game in Moncton, N. B., was named the first star for his three-point effort (1-2-3). The Sting gave the Storm all they could handle with a solid effort.
Kai Schwindt (11th) (Florida Panthers) and Marko Sikic (11th) – both had a goal and an assist in the contest. Schwindt was selected as the third star. Carter Kostuch and Tyson Doucette provided one assist each. Nick Surzycia was terrific throughout the game giving his team a chance, stopping 18 of 21 shots.
Former Sting Max Namestnikov was the second star with a goal and an assist. Braeden Bowman had a two-point night, that included his 25th goal of the season. Storm goaltender Brayden Gillespie was in fine form with 22 saves on 24 shots. Guelph welcomed back defenseman Cam Allen (Washington Capitals) in his first game back after being out with an injury. Sarnia out-shot Guelph 24-21 and both teams went 2/4 on the power-play.
Sarnia played a strong first period scoring the only goal and out-shooting Guelph 5-4.
The Sting goal was scored on the power-play, late – at the 18:00 minute mark. It was a three-way passing play that started with Kostuch feeding Sikic, who was in front, and he sent a pass to Schwindt and he put the puck in the net. Surzycia made a couple of outstanding saves on Braeden Bowman and robbing Jake Karabela (Washington Capitals), later in the period. Guelph’s only power-play opportunity was nullified by a strong Sting penalty kill, which kept the Storm with-out a shot on net.
The second period was a feisty affair with lots of rough stuff which resulted in three power-play goals as the two teams skated to a 2-2 tie after forty minutes of play. Guelph scored the first two goals as Bowman from Luchanko and Brody Crane tied the game at 6:21. The Storm took the lead for the first time on a goal from Namestnikov at 9:01 with assists going to Luchanko and Bowman. Sarnia tied the game on another late goal at 17:34. Doucette put the puck on net and Schwindt managed to get his stick on it and that resulted in a loose puck and Sikic finished off the scoring play jamming it into the net. Both teams had ten shots on goal.
