Storm fall in shootout in pre-season opener
Ryan Kinsey, Guelphstorm.com –
A marathon 11-round shootout was required to decide the Storm’s pre-season opener at the Sleeman Centre on Labour Day, with the visiting Mississauga Steelheads emerging victorious. Despite being on the wrong end of the score, the Storm treated the fans to an entertaining match in the first Storm action since the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup.
The Storm opened up the scoring on a power-play goal from Pius Suter, set up beautifully by Jason Dickinson. Mississauga came back quickly to tie up the game on a cross crease pass by Stephen Gibson to set up Austin Gerhart for the goal. The Steelheads would take the lead on a power play goal from Bryson Cianfrone. Guelph had two great chances on a Dickinson breakaway on the penalty kill and Suter breakaway earlier in the period, with both stopped by Steelheads netminder Spencer Martin. Guelph out shot the Steelheads 14-12 in the opening frame but had trouble solving Mississauga’s veteran stopper.
The Storm opened up the scoring again in the second period on an incredible shot by veteran Justin Auger on the power play. Bradley Van Schubert came in half way through the second period to relieve Matthew Mancina in goal for the Storm. He was quickly beat on a cross crease pass from Lucas Venuto to set up Josh Burnside’s goal. The Storm tied the game on a rebound goal from Jason Dickinson, on an attempted wrap around by Suter. The second period was a hard-hitting affair that saw the Storm carry the play offensively again, outshooting the Steelheads 17-9.
Guelph opened the scoring for the third straight period. Matthew Hotchkiss passed off to Phil Baltisberger to enter the zone, and the Swiss defenseman sifted a pass to Tyler Boston who buried it to take a 4-3 lead early in the third frame. Mississauga would then quickly tie the game on a goal from Lucas Venuto. After the quick goals to open the period by both clubs the goalies kept the score tied. Rookie goaltender Bradley Van Schubert made a nice save on a point blank shot from the point to keep the game tied at 4. The Storm outshot the Steelheads 10-6 in the third.
Pius Suter opened the shootout with a nice forehand, backhand deke for the goal. Nathan Bastian, the second shooter for the Steelheads, tied the shootout up on a goal that hit of the bottom of Storm goalie Van Schubert’s glove. The shootout would remain tied until Mississauga Steelheads’ Jason Smith beat Van Schubert with a fake shot deke for the backhand goal.
The Guelph Storm continues the pre-season on Friday September 5 against the Steelheads in Milton. The next home pre-season game is on Friday September 12 versus the Plymouth Whalers.
Game Notes:
- Guelph’s scratches for the afternoons game were; Tyler Bertuzzi, newly signed Jesse Hilton, Ben Harpur and Zac Leslie.
