Sparks the key in Saturday shootout victory in London

By Tony Saxon,  Guelph Mercury – The Guelph Storm has a tradition after winning a game that sees the offensive and defensive stars of the game each awarded a soldier’s helmet to recognize their efforts.

Saturday night in London, goaltender Garret Sparks got both of them.

Sparks was simply brilliant, making 42 saves in regulation and then stopping all five London shooters he faced in the shootout as the Storm downed the Knights 4-3 at Budweiser Gardens.

It was a solid rebound game for Sparks, who was yanked the night before after allowing four goals.

“I didn’t think I was horrible (Friday), but it’s nice to bounce back,” Sparks said.

“I’ve not really been happy with the way I’ve been playing lately, so it was nice to have a really solid night.”

Guelph’s Brock McGinn was the lone player out of the 10 shootout skaters to score. McGinn slid a backhander under Patterson’s pads that hit the inside of the goalpost before crossing the line.

“How good was Sparks tonight?” Guelph coach Scott Walker asked rhetorically after the game. “He was the best player on the ice for either team by a million miles.”

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Guelph Storm 4 (SO) at London Knights 3 – Status: Final SO
Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Budweiser Gardens

Guelph 0 1 2 0 – 4
London 0 1 2 0 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Ferry Ldn (slashing), 10:17; Elie Ldn (boarding), 18:05.

2nd Period-1, Guelph, Bertuzzi 4 (Auger), 3:38. 2, London, Griffith 11 (Elie, Maatta), 14:54. Penalties-Rupert Ldn (hooking), 0:44; Bauman Gue (holding), 5:13; Kosmachuk Gue (hooking), 8:02; McNaughton Gue (cross checking), 9:30; McNaughton Gue (elbowing), 19:19.

3rd Period-3, London, Anderson 4 (Hughes, Griffith), 1:51. 4, Guelph, Harpur 2 (Kosmachuk, Richard), 9:33. 5, London, Griffith 12 (Horvat, Maatta), 10:54 (PP). 6, Guelph, Pedan 5 (Poliziani, Dickinson), 14:23. Penalties-Fabbri Gue (holding), 2:36; McNaughton Gue (roughing), 4:53; Anderson Ldn (roughing), 4:53; Domi Ldn (slashing), 5:56; McGinn Gue (charging), 10:49; McNaughton Gue (roughing), 12:25; Maatta Ldn (interference), 14:11; Anderson Ldn (slashing), 16:48.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Leslie Gue (cross checking), 3:51.

Shootout – Guelph 1 (Fabbri NG, Bertuzzi NG, Dickinson NG, Leslie NG, McGinn G), London 0 (Griffith NG, Domi NG, Rupert NG, Platzer NG, Horvat NG).
Shots on Goal-Guelph 4-9-10-0-1-24. London 10-14-17-4-0-45.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 0 / 5; London 1 / 8.
Goalies-Guelph, Sparks 9-2-0-1 (45 shots-42 saves). London, Patterson 2-0-0-1 (23 shots-20 saves).
A-8,855
Referees-Pat Myers (40), David Gauthier (28).
Linesmen-Darryl Wolfe (53), Dave Pfohl (96).