Storm doubles up Spitfires
The Guelph Storm picked up where they left off from a strong pre-season as they doubled up the Windsor Spitfires on the road 6-3 to open the 2011-12 season with a win. Scott Kosmachuk notched his first career hat trick and five different Guelph forwards had multi-point games in the victory.
After two periods of play the scoreboard read 1-1, but the visitors were dominating the contest outshooting Windsor 28-8. Guelph opened the scoring with Frank Menard snapping a Zack Mitchell drop pass past John Cullen late in the first. Windsor evened the score on Zack MacQueen’s first of the season at the 10:25 mark of the second. Despite the one-sided shot totals, the Storm had to regroup during the second intermission as they couldn’t put their hosts away.
The final 20 minutes were the best of the night by Windsor, but it was Guelph that owned the scoresheet as they poured in five goals on 15 shots to pull away. Cody McNaughton banged in his own rebound for the go ahead tally just 26 seconds after the opening puck drop before Kosmachuk one-timed a nice Tanner Richard feed at the side of the net to give the Storm their first two-goal cushion just under three minutes later. After the Spitfires cut the lead to one, a pair of Windsor minor penalties put the Storm up two men and proved to be the difference on the evening. Once again, Richard made it happen with a smart dish to Kosmachuk for a one-time finish past Cullen. Down a pair, the Spitfires made it interesting with MacQueen’s second of the night with 4:08 remaining in regulation. A pair of empty net goals including Kosmachuk’s third and Menard’s second made it a 6-3 final.
Friday night, a capacity crowd at the Sleeman Centre awaits the 2011-12 edition of the Storm as they make their home ice debut on Magnet Schedule Night sponsored by Owens Corning, Bobby O’Brien’s and McCabes. Then two days later, the London Knights come to town for a 2 pm Sunday afternoon tilt. Tickets for both games are still available.
Guelph Storm 6 at Windsor Spitfires 3 – Status: End of Game
Thursday, September 22, 2011 – WFCU Centre
Guelph 1 0 5 – 6
Windsor 0 1 2 – 3
1st Period-1, Guelph, Menard 1 (Mitchell, McNaughton), 15:06. Penalties-Horvat Gue (boarding), 12:24; Maletta Wsr (cross checking), 19:20.
2nd Period-2, Windsor, MacQueen 1 (Vail, Bateman), 10:25. Penalties-Watling Gue (kneeing), 4:54; Auger Gue (fighting), 14:49; Bertuzzi Gue (fighting), 14:49; Bilcke Wsr (fighting), 14:49; Bowen Wsr (fighting), 14:49; Menard Gue (hooking), 15:26; served by Feasey Wsr (too many men), 16:34; Robertson Wsr (high sticking), 20:00.
3rd Period-3, Guelph, McNaughton 1 (Menard), 0:26 (PP). 4, Guelph, Kosmachuk 1 (Richard, Pereira), 3:05. 5, Windsor, Clarke 1 (Rychel), 4:22. 6, Guelph, Kosmachuk 2 (Richard, Leslie), 9:50 (PP). 7, Windsor, MacQueen 2 (Vail, Rychel), 15:52 (PP). 8, Guelph, Kosmachuk 3 (McGinn), 19:19 (EN). 9, Guelph, Menard 2 (Mitchell, Gaskin), 19:53 (EN). Penalties-Vail Wsr (check from behind), 7:54; served by McCann Wsr (too many men), 8:40; Leslie Gue (hooking), 15:24.
Shots on Goal-Guelph 17-11-15-43. Windsor 4-4-14-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Guelph 2 / 5; Windsor 1 / 4.
Goalies-Guelph, Foote 0-0-0-0 (22 shots-19 saves). Windsor, Cullen 0-0-0-0 (41 shots-37 saves).
A-6,057
Referees-Scott Hoberg (13), Ryan Hutchison (20).
Linesmen-Matt Prozaki (43), Ryan Lachine (81).
