Game Stories: Storm fall to Steelheads

In their first mid-week matchup of the season, the Storm traveled to Mississauga to face the Steelheads. It was an important game for both teams, as the Storm looked to snap a three-game losing skid, and the Steelheads attempted to win their second game in a row for the first time this season. Liam Herbst and Matthew Mancina started in goal for their respective teams, and it was the former Storm goalie who got that last laugh as the Steelheads beat the Storm 11-3.

It was a whirlwind first period between the Storm and the Steelheads. The Storm jumped to the quick lead, as Liam Stevens put home the redirect from Levi Tetrault, Albert Michnac also picked up an assist on the play. The Storm would add to their lead 10 minutes later when Givani Smith potted his first on the season, on a beautiful individual effort powering past the Steelheads defense.

The rest of the period was all Steelheads as they countered just one minute after the Smith goal, as Brendan Harrogate went upstairs past Herbst. The Steelheads attack continued when Jacob Moverare scored his first OHL goal on a blast from the point. Another minute passed and another Steelheads goal came, this time, Owen Tippett beat Herbst. In the dying minutes of the first frame, Tippett scored again to give the Steelheads the 4-2 lead to end the period.

The first period shots were 18-12 in favour of the home team.

The Storm entered the second period looking to get back into the game, however, the Steelheads began the period the same way they ended the first, when Nicolas Hague scored early on the power play giving the Steelheads a 5-2 lead. Mississauga continued to add to the lead as Sean Day scored just inside the blue line, Hague would add another a minute later.

The Storm continued to battle and had their chances but were unable to get the puck past Mancina, until they caught a break and went to the power play. Storm centre Nate Schnarr capitalized on the opportunity and scored top shelf over Mancina.

At the end of the second period, the score was 7-3 in favour of the home team and the shots were 34-26 Mississauga.

Despite the large deficit, the Storm entered the third period strong, looking to cut into the lead, but the Steelheads continued to dominate the game, when Hague completed the hat-trick, scoring on the power play. Mississauga scored again just 30 seconds later, on a goal from Jason Smith.

Mancina frustrated the Storm all night, often challenged, but was equal to the task. With just under eight minutes to go, Brendan Harrogate added to the lead to make the score 10-3 for the Steelheads. The Storm continued to have many chances but couldn’t capitalize, and with 6:33 left to play, Michael McLeod found the back of the net to give Mississauga the 11-3 lead.

The final score was 11-3 for Mississauga and the shots were 48-41 for the Steelheads.

With the loss, the Storm fall to 3-5-0-0 and the Steelheads improve to 3-4-0-0

Your Guelph Storm will look to snap their skid when they host the Erie Otters at the Sleeman Centre on Friday night. Tickets for Friday night’s game can be purchased by calling or visiting the Guelph Storm Box Office at 519-837-9690 or online HERE.

GAME NOTES:

• Isaac Ratcliffe extended his point streak to six games
• Former Storm goalie Matthew Mancina picked up the win, making 38 saves

Guelph Storm 3 at Mississauga Steelheads 11 – Status: Final
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 – Hershey Centre

Guelph 2 1 0 – 3
Mississauga 4 3 4 – 11

1st Period-1, Guelph, Stevens 3 (Tetrault, Michnac), 1:08. 2, Guelph, Smith 1   11:13. 3, Mississauga, Harrogate 1 (Boomhower, LeBlanc), 12:35. 4, Mississauga, Moverare 1 (McLeod, Bastian), 14:21. 5, Mississauga, Tippett 2 (McLeod, Moverare), 15:28. 6, Mississauga, Tippett 3 (Day, Bastian), 18:44. Penalties-Smith Gue (cross checking), 14:05; Bourne Miss (slashing), 14:05; Smith Gue (blindsiding), 19:55.

2nd Period-7, Mississauga, Hague 3 (Bastian, Tippett), 1:33 (PP). 8, Mississauga, Day 2 (McLeod, Hague), 9:43. 9, Mississauga, Hague 4 (Bastian), 10:55. 10, Guelph, Schnarr 4 (McFadden, Ratcliffe), 15:33 (PP). Penalties-Carroll Gue (roughing, misc-usc), 5:05; Merkley Gue (misc-usc), 5:05; Dow Miss (roughing, misc-usc), 5:05; Little Miss (misc-usc), 5:05; Philips Gue (roughing), 8:12; Bourne Miss (roughing), 8:12; Smith Gue (misc-usc), 11:30; Boomhower Miss (charging), 12:15; McLeod Miss (check from behind), 13:41.

3rd Period-11, Mississauga, Hague 5 (Bastian, McLeod), 2:38 (PP). 12, Mississauga, Smith 1 (Bourne), 3:03. 13, Mississauga, Harrogate 2   12:21. 14, Mississauga, McLeod 1   13:27. Penalties-Burghardt Gue (unsportsmanlike cnd., unsportsmanlike cnd.), 0:31; Smith Gue (tripping), 4:14; Stevens Gue (slashing), 4:33; Osmanski Miss (roughing, slashing), 4:33; Moverare Miss (tripping), 5:00; Osmanski Miss (tripping), 9:53; Philips Gue (roughing), 17:07; Gibson Miss (roughing), 17:07.

Shots on Goal-Guelph 12-14-15-41. Mississauga 19-19-13-51.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 1 / 5; Mississauga 2 / 4.
Goalies-Guelph, Herbst 2-3-0-0 (19 shots-15 saves); Popovich 1-2-0-0 (32 shots-25 saves). Mississauga, Mancina 3-3-0-0 (41 shots-38 saves).
A-1,711
Referees-Mike Cairns (34), Josh Schein (27).
Linesmen-Justin Tang (80), Scott Lawson (98).

3 STARS

1. Nicolas Hague
2. Owen Tippett
3. Brendan Harrogate