If you’re holding your breath waiting for a blockbuster trade from Guelph Storm general manager Mike Kelly, you might want to exhale before you pass out.

Kelly continues to say he will only look to “tweak” the line-up before the trade deadline Jan. 10 despite the fact they have won four of their last five games with all four victories coming over top ranked teams.

“The message is clear that if we don’t make a move (before the deadline) we still have a chance going into the playoffs,” said Kelly. “I believe we have the chance to improve internally by as much as 30 per cent (between now and the playoffs).” Kelly will not leave any stone unturned in search of a player or two that might help but he doesn’t want to lessen the ice time earned by young players like Scott Kosmachuk, Brock McGinn and Matt Finn. Since Kelly arrived on the scene he has given them more ice time and they have responded with some excellent efforts.

The GM also has to be aware that there isn’t a lot coming back next season so to give up even more of the future for a player who may or may not help this spring is a long term risk he isn’t about engage in.

“Starting (yesterday) we will be doing off-ice fitness training in the morning with a goal in mind of being the best conditioned team for the opening game of the playoffs,” said Kelly. “We will continue to play our up-tempo style of game distributing the ice time responsibly while demanding discipline in terms of no foolish penalties.” Kelly describes the trade market as “active” at the moment with it being a sellers market.

“I still think there are potentially more people wanting to bring in players than there are impact players available” he said. “The big question is what Windsor will do? Are they going to keep their guys (Zack Kassian and Ryan Ellis) and add to it? If that is the case then Kassian and Ellis are withdrawn from the market and Windsor become buyers which tightens the market even more so.” It was always felt that after back-toback Memorial Cup wins that the Spitfires would unload their big two stars but with Windsor now sitting in fourth in the conference (four points ahead of the Storm) rumours have it that GM Warren Rychel may keep his big guns and add a few more to make another run.

For the first time in a few years there is no definitive leader in the Western Conference. With Guelph’s sudden resurgence Kelly feels that getting a little more from each of his players will give his club a shot in the post-season.

With recent wins over Kitchener twice, Mississauga (second ranked in Canada) and Saginaw (seventh ranked nationally) Kelly has reason for hope. But I’m not quite ready to jump on the bandwagon yet. Their next eight games should tell the tale.

They play several of the top teams over that stretch (Owen Sound twice 24-11-0- 2, Oshawa 21-9-3-3, Saginaw 25-8-3-1, Ottawa 25-11-1-1) with six of the eight on the road.

The timing of the trade deadline is unfortunate for Kelly because if it had fallen after this stretch of eight games he’d know exactly what he has on his hands.

From the Land of Oz . . . Guelph lost to London 3-2 Wednesday, beat Mississauga 5-2 Thursday, and beat Saginaw 7-3 Saturday … Defenceman Tim Campbell will be out at least a few more weeks with his high ankle sprain . . . Richard Panik, who has been playing for Team Slovakia and at the World Juniors will be back in time for games this weekend, as will defenceman Matt Finn who is playing with Team Ontario at the World Under 17 Challenge.

Panik had four goals and an assist in a 5-0 Slovakian win over Norway Sunday.

. . .

Tyler Carroll has been suspended for five games for a head check during the team’s 3-2 loss to London after Christmas. He is eligible to return Jan. 14 in Owen Sound.