Storm fall to Rangers
By Tony Saxon, Guelph Mercury
Outworked. Outplayed. Outcoached. Outclassed.
That’s about all you can say about the Guelph Storm’s 7-1 meltdown at Kitchener Mermorial Auditorium Tuesday night.
Maybe that’s why Storm coach/general manager Jason Brooks didn’t try to say more.
Brooks, who never ducks questions even after the toughest of losses, offered a polite but firm “no comment” on this one as he quickly boarded the team bus after the game.
Nobody else seemed too thrilled to discuss it either.
Storm captain Tyler Carroll said the game ranked “number one” on the list of frustrating moments this season.
“We didn’t stick to the game plan and it went downhill from there,” said Carroll.
A big part of that game plan involved staying out of the penalty box against a Rangers squad that boasts the league’s best power play. So much for that idea as the Rangers hit for four power play goals in the first half of the game.
“We expected a better game from them. I think we were ready to play tonight and I don’t think they were,” said Kitchener’s little general Ryan Murphy, who had a goal and three assists and played maestro on the Rangers’ finely-tuned power play unit.
Then Murphy, perhaps not wanting to rub salt in the Storm’s wounds, quickly added: “they’re a good team. They’ll be ready next time.”
The Storm led 1-0 on Michael Latta’s tip in 3:42 into the contest, but by the end of the first the Rangers were up 3-1 and never looked back.
