From the Stands
As disappointed as the Guelph Storm were with their elimination from the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, I looked at General Manager Mike Kelly and saw nothing but a proud grandfather reflecting on the year that had suddenly ended moments before.
“You’re right quite frankly,” he said. “This was a development year and our priority was changing the culture and to develop the base for future championship teams. The coaches and players both exceeded my expectations.”
What a difference a year makes. Last year’s squad, laden with talented veterans, also went out in the first round in six games but then it was a feeling of utter disappointment and the opinion that the effort level never matched the god given talent.
This year, despite losing in six games to Plymouth, there is the feeling that the coaches got everything they could out of this young group of players and the best is yet to come.
“I knew coming in what my role would be with such a young team” said an emotional Kyle Pereira after playing his final game in the OHL. “But this has probably been my most fun year, to be part of the culture change and watching these young players develop.”
“All three of (the overage players) made a speech to the guys at the end of the game” said Stephen Gaskin after the team’s 2-1 overtime loss. “This year has been really special and if they go on to win in the future, no one will be prouder than the three of us (Brandon Foote being the third overage).”
16-year-olds Jason Dickinson (pictured), Hunter Garlent and Tyler Bertuzzi all took giant leaps forward in the second half of the year and especially in this series. Other young players like Matt Finn, Brock McGinn and Scott Kosmachuk played first line minutes against a Plymouth team that had 8 players already drafted into the NHL. They are the future and the heart and soul of the culture change that took place.
So with the loss, it is time to look forward to next year. That future begins on Saturday with the OHL Draft. Guelph picks sixth overall and according to Kelly will land a player who will be able to come in and make an immediate impact next season.
“We should be able to get either a defenceman who will be in our top four by the end of next season or a forward who will be in our top nine forwards” said Kelly. “It’s a flip of a coin as to whether we will get a forward or a defenceman.”
One would have to think that with three excellent forwards emerging from the 2011 draft, they’d love to grab a right shot defenceman but if that player is no longer there at number six, they’ll move to option two.
“We have it narrowed down to three players at this point who we think will be available (in the sixth spot)” said Kelly.
Amongst the fans afterwards you got the feeling they felt this was just the beginning of great things to come from the Storm franchise. Whether it was coaches Scott Walker, Bill Stewart or Chris Hajt or GM Mike Kelly, there wasn’t the feeling of doom and gloom that usually follows a playoff exit; there was the sense that this was simply the price of progress with the Promised Land now in sight.
From the Land of Oz…..After giving up a shocking four shorthanded goals in their 9-3 loss to Plymouth in game 5, the Storm responded with a gutsy effort in game 6. Plymouth scored in the second period to take the lead before Jason Dickinson tied the game early in the third. “I felt we were the better team in the second half of the game” said coach Walker, but the Storm just couldn’t bury their chances. Guelph had three great chances in overtime before Tom Wilson poked in a rebound for the game winner at 5:58 of OT. Goaltenders Garret Sparks and Scott Wedgewood were both excellent. Final shots on goal were 36-36.
