Game Stories: Herbst, Stevens carry Storm to victory
After what was a long summer for the Guelph Storm, the wait was finally over, as the Storm kicked-off their 2016-17 campaign taking on western conference rival, Saginaw Spirit.
The Storm prevailed 5-1 in a high-tempo game which featured plenty of scoring chances for both sides.
Liam Herbst made the most of his Storm debut stopping 35 of 36 shots in the win over the Spirit, while Matthew Hotchkiss, Luke Burghardt, Nate Schnarr and Liam Stevens (2) provided goal support.
Saginaw’s Brendan Bonello stopped 34 of 39 shots, while Mike Davies potted the lone goal.
Despite the 2-0 Guelph lead at the end of the first period, things were even as the Storm registered 16 shots to Saginaw’s 13. Hotchkiss potted the first goal of the Storm season, burying the rebound off a terrific end-to-end rush by Ryan Merkley. The Storm continued to apply the pressure as Burghardt found the back of the net just one minute later.
The Storm came flying out of the gates to start the second period when Liam Stevens was able to bang home the bouncing puck in front of the net.
Three minutes later, Mike Davies put Saginaw on the board ripping one past Herbst from the slot area.
With five minutes left to play in the second period Nic Sicoly and Schnarr connected on a 2-on-1 with Schnarr sniping home the short-handed goal.
Guelph headed into the second intermission up 4-1 while outshooting Saginaw 31-27.
The final frame was continued to produce scoring chances for both sides but it was Stevens who scored the lone goal of the period, on the power-play, to seal the 5-1 victory over Saginaw.
Final Shots in the game were 39-36 for Guelph.
With the win, the Storm starts the 2016-17 season 1-0-0-0, while the Spirit fall to 0-2-0-0.
Guelph is back in action tomorrow night when they head down to Saginaw for a 7:05 PM matchup against the Spirit.
GAME NOTES
- 4 Storm players made their OHL debut tonight: Barret Kirwin, Ryan Merkley, Albert Michnac, Dmitri Samorukov
- Guelph is now 12-7-1 in their last 20 home openers, dating back to the 1997-8 season.
- Merkley and Samorukov earned their first career OHL points eight minutes into their OHL careers.
Saginaw Spirit 1 at Guelph Storm 5 – Status: Final
Friday, September 23, 2016 – Sleeman Centre
Saginaw 0 1 0 – 1
Guelph 2 2 1 – 5
1st Period-1, Guelph, Hotchkiss 1 (Merkley, Samorukov), 7:26. 2, Guelph, Burghardt 1 (Bricknell, Schnarr), 8:27. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-3, Guelph, Stevens 1 (Deakin-Poot, Rhodes), 1:51. 4, Saginaw, Davies 1 (Bennett, Coskey), 4:29. 5, Guelph, Schnarr 1 (Sicoly, Hall), 15:00 (SH). Penalties-Garcia Sag (roughing), 12:18; Tetrault Gue (high sticking), 14:33.
3rd Period-6, Guelph, Stevens 2 (Ralph, Bricknell), 8:23 (PP). Penalties-Phillips Sag (fighting), 2:22; Deakin-Poot Gue (fighting, cross checking, match-cross check), 2:22; Grondin Sag (slashing), 8:23; Philips Gue (slashing), 9:04; Grondin Sag (blindsiding), 11:16; Philips Gue (slashing), 14:46.
Shots on Goal-Saginaw 13-14-9-36. Guelph 16-15-8-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Saginaw 0 / 4; Guelph 1 / 3.
Goalies-Saginaw, Bonello 0-2-0-0 (39 shots-34 saves). Guelph, Herbst 1-0-0-0 (36 shots-35 saves).
A-4,121
Referees-Jason Faist (5), Quincy Evans (7).
Linesmen-Dustin McCrank (68), Cory Piche (87).
3 STARS
- GUE Liam Stevens
- GUE Liam Herbst
- GUE Nate Schnarr
