By: Paul Osborne

With bold predictions of team success the Guelph Storm’s first weekend in this Ontario Hockey League season saw them earn just a single point. They dropped a 4-3 overtime decision in Windsor last Thursday despite outshooting the Spitfires 46-29. Then they emerged like a house on fire in their home opener, jumping out to a 2-0 lead over Sudbury before leaving their work ethic in the dressing after the first period, losing 4-2. It was a very disappointing effort all around.

 “Obviously we expect a lot more from ourselves,” said veteran forward Nate Schnarr who had a goal and an assist in each of the first two games. “We have to take a look at ourselves and everyday come ready to work and have a big week (of practice). There are no excuses, we haven’t been good enough (so far) and we need to take ownership of that.”

 It wasn’t so much the fact they lost, as it was how they lost. They just sat back after the first and let a weak Sudbury squad dictate the pace of play.

 “It’s absolutely not the way we wanted to start (the season),” said head coach and GM George Burnett. “You anticipate a little NHL hangover with the number of guys we had away but that would only be an excuse at this point and time.”

 It’s true the Storm had ten players away at NHL training camps meaning they haven’t had a full practice together as a team but that shouldn’t affect the team’s ability to compete.

 “There is a feeling out process, most of us were gone for two weeks so it will take a week or so to build some chemistry but it won’t take long, we’ve played together for how many years now and it’s going to come,” said Schnarr. “We just need to stay positive and work.”

 “We received a real lesson in determined work and what it means,” said the coach. “We have lots of guys thinking about other things it would appear. Worrying about things that are out of their control (like) who they are playing with and what their role is and we just have to get down to work.”

 This is a veteran laden club but ice time will have to be earned. Burnett started Friday’s game with four pretty evenly matched lines and players will have to get past things like who gets specialty team time and who their line mates are.

 “We do a lot of talking (about doing the right things) but talk is cheap when you are behind,” said the coach. “We learned some pretty valuable lessons and there’s going to be some great video to see over the next couple of days.”

 But there is no reason to panic. It’s game two of 68. A full week of practice will certainly help as they prepare to host Owen Sound Friday night.

 From the Land of Oz … Liam Hawel has had a quick start to the season with three goals in two games. Schnarr has two goals and two assists. There is a good chance Ryan Merkley will return from San Jose this week and that would mean all their players are back…The Storm did a nice tribute to the late Rita Campbell at the home opener. The red jacket full of pins she was known to wear will be framed and mounted at the entrance of gate 6.